Chapter 555. Houun Takashi Castle (Part 1)
The car arrives in front of the building with number seven written on it.
The uniform guards of Kouzuki security service are already gathered at the entrance.
Err, it’s about 200 to 300 people.
They’re all wearing helmet and protector, a transparent shield.
They’re dressed like the police riot force.
「 Everyone, form a row! 」
When they noticed their head, chief Yazawa, the man who seems to be the leader orders them.
「 Don’t mind me! Concentrate on your preparations! 」
Chief Yazawa shouts as he gets off the car.
「 The commander this time is Seki! Don’t think that I’m here! 」
Chief Yazawa smiles at the uniform guards.
「 Roger that! First platoon! Departing! 」
「 Second platoon! Departing! 」
「 Third Platoon! Departing! 」
「 Fourth, fifth platoon! Stand by! 」
「 Sixth and seventh platoon! You’ll head to the position! Everyone faster! Advance!!! 」
「 Roger!! 」
Each unit starts to move.
I also get off the car.
「 Then, where’s Seki? 」
「 Ha! I’ll lead the way! 」
The guard without a protector in front of the building guides chief Yazawa into the building.
Of course, I followed them.
Taki-san who came to support from the hotel too.
While walking on the passage, chief Yazawa:
「 They don’t even have the time to be saluting on me 」
He mutters to himself.
But, his face is smiling.
「 But still, Seki’s choice is quite good, it’s unthinkable to have a newly organized unit, right? 」
Taki-san says from behind.
「 Seki-san had been observing the young talents inside the company since before. She knows who’s fit for the right post 」
Taki-san answers while walking.
「 Oh, she’s replenishing the things Yamaoka didn’t see when his head was full 」
「 Seki-san is an excellent beauty, so if she recognizes their strength, naturally, the male members will be inspired to rouse themselves 」
「 She’s also popular with the women. Seki-san talks to everyone in the company friendly, she looks at how they work properly, so she’s famous 」
The other woman also praises Shou-neechan.
「 True, my colleague also endorsed Seki-san’s promotion 」
「 Thanks to Seki-san bothering to report, I received a compliment directly from Kakka 」
「 On the other hand, some people were reprimanded directly 」
「 If you pester Seki-san then it would reach Kakka’s ears. Everyone got scared of it, right? 」
「 Well yeah 」
Yazawa-san and the women laughed.
「 That was a joke but, for real, Seki-san has a personality of not having two sides, so that’s why. also, she can’t have employees resenting her later, right? 」
「 Yes. Seki-san thinks of our position 」
「 Actually, it helps the people who were scolded by Kakka 」
「 What does that mean? 」
Chief Yazawa asks Taki-san.
「 Actually, Yamaoka-san was trying to deal with the problems from the inside 」
「 Without reporting it to Kakka or me? 」
「 Yes 」
Taki-san replied.
「 Seki-san tells Kakka what kind of mistake was done and director Yamaoka can no longer punish that person 」
「 If it was with director Yamaoka it will become an endless nagging. It’s painful for that person, the morale on the site also goes down 」
「 Besides, when they receive Kakka’s scolding, it’s only temporary, and it ends as a funny story 」
「 Therefore, we’re grateful for Seki-san’s actions at that time 」
Shou-neechan’s a considerate person. She’s really capable.
Her evaluation within the company is very high.
「 Besides, when Seki-san intervenes, she judged fairly no matter what position they have in any department, there’s no conflict on each department 」
「 Not a single problem leaves a trail and become a cause for a later problem 」
「 Oh, so that’s why when Yamaoka was pulled out, the security department can’t feel at ease unless it’s Seki 」
Chief Yazawa said with a smile.
「 If it’s someone who’s promoted in a department in the company then there would be people who would raise suspicions inside the company that she might be giving preferential treatment to the department she came from, or possibly she might receive a cold reception. However, Seki was a top elite since joining the company, and she’s been Kakka’s personal bodyguard for years 」
「 I agree. Among Kakka’s personal bodyguards, Seki-san’s job is to discuss and coordinate with each department 」
Therefore, she’s pretty acquainted with the people in every department.
She observes which person is in which department, the power relationships, and the strong and weak points of each employee.
「 That’s why I think that it is the right choice to have Seki as the security head. Having that said, she can’t stop working as Kakka’s personal bodyguard now. For now, she’ll hold the position consequently 」
Chief Yazawa?
「 Ootoku and Choumoto are excellent bodyguards, but they don’t coordinate with the people inside the company 」
「 That’s right, now that we reached this far, I also feel a bit scared when talking to the two 」
「 I know that they’re not bad guys but, anyway, I’m just terrified 」
「 Just having them close to you makes you shiver from their bloodlust 」
「 Even for us who were trained to some extent can feel the fear of them through our skin 」
「 If I recall, the two of them aren’t married? 」
「 That’s right, that’s why arranging a meeting with the two is somewhat impossible 」
「 Even in the male troops, some young boys tremble when the two stare at them 」
Err, Ootoku-san, and Choumoto-san are homo. Right.
「 However, their ability is remarkably amazing. They’re the only people suited to be Kakka’s bodyguards. Therefore, Ootoku and Choumoto need Seki to work with the regular employees 」
「 I think so too. Seki-san is always close to those two, she’s really amazing 」
「 And she’s even talking to them laughing, does she not get scared? 」
「 I mean, what are they talking about? 」
If I recall, it was all girl’s talk.
「 Speaking of which, there are rumors that Seki-san don’t only have coordination ability, but she’s also as strong as the two 」
Taki-san asks. Chief Yazawa.
「 Seki’s actually skilled. She’s better in shooting than fighting. Besides, She learned exclusively how to protect VIPs in a training institution in Europe. She’s got excellent marks, so I scouted her out 」
「 So the story about chief directly hiring her is true. 」
「 Yeah. Her foreign language study is excellent, she also has friends from foreign police and VIP security organizations during her study abroad so there are a lot of things you can’t entrust to anyone but Seki 」
「 I knew it, she’s amazing 」
Taki-san shows admiration.
「 Anyway, she’s excellent. Having no romantic rumors about her is a bit worrying for me as her superior. 」
「 No, Seki-san is popular among the men, but she’s too excellent that the boys can’t take a step forward 」
「 She has Ootoku-san and Choumoto-san on her side too 」
「 I mean, one of the two should date her 」
「 Eeh, no way! Seki-san is on the intelligent side 」
「 I wonder! If she’s intellectual then won’t she be attracted to buff guys? 」
Err.
No, I’ll just shut up. I am air.
「 They don’t have that feeling. Those guys are professionals, so they don’t bring romance to their work 」
Yazawa-san says that to his subordinates but.
He knows what’s ‘the actual state of Ootoku-san and Choumoto-san.
When talking with Shou-neechan, Ootoku-san and Choumoto-san seem to be talking about the young male subordinates.
Furthermore, they’re filled with jealousy.
Their love for men seems to be leaking, but;
Of course, they’re afraid to tell the regular members of the company that.
「 That’s right. Seki-san is perfect 」
Taki-san said.
「 I’m also a big fan of Seki-san 」
I see.
「 This way, chief 」
The guard who leads the way stops in front of a door.
「 Yeah, good work 」
Chief Yazawa knocks on the door.
「 Who? 」
Shou-neechan’s dignified voice can be heard from inside the room.
「 Yazawa. I came to see the situation 」
「 Come in 」
Chief Yazawa opens the door.
The room’s dark.
It seems to be the adjustment room for the recording studio. Other than Shou-neechan, there are several men in uniform inside.
A lot of TV screens reflect the concrete castle wall from various angles.
「 What’s the situation? 」
「 There are no problems, everything’s going on schedule 」
Shou-neechan replied slightly nervously.
She seems to be tired.
「 I see, I brought two extra personnel. You know these two, right? 」
Taki-san goes forward and salutes.
「 Yes, thank you, that helps. Taki-san. Tamaki-san 」
Shou-neechan smiles on the two.
「 Y-Yes! 」
「 Also, I brought him 」
I show up behind the two female guards.
「 Ah, I came 」
At that moment, Shou-neechan;
「 Yes, I was waiting 」
She smiles at me with a face of a maiden in love.
「 ？？？！ 」
The two women are surprised.
Chief Yazawa too.
「 Sugiyama-kun, Taki-san, and Tamaki-san will join your group 」
「 Roger 」
The guard on the side salutes to Shou-neechan.
「 Follow me 」
「 Y-Yes 」
Their eyes remain dots, Taki-san and the other gets out of the room along with the male guard.
「 Well then, chief, I’ll explain our current situation 」
「 Ah, right 」
Shou-neechan returned her “woman” face to the security officer. Yazawa-san looks puzzled, but he nods.
「 You can stay in the room on the other side of the corridor. There’s food prepared for you 」
Huh, Shou-neechan? Food?
「 I gave the rest to our employees, but Katsuko-san sent a mail that she’s worried about your meal 」
Katsuko-nee did?
Ah, the wristwatch.
She said that when I press the crown, my position would be known through GPS but.
Even without doing that, Katsuko-nee and others have always been checking where I am.
Perhaps Katsuko-nee and Minaho-neesan realized that I’m heading to Green mountain studio without telling Megu and others.
That’s why.
「 I guess. This is a discussion we can’t let outsiders hear. Sorry, but could you stay over the next room? 」
Chief Yazawa told me.
「 Yeah, got it, the room on the other side, right? 」
「 The one with “Staff Room 3” written on it 」
Shou-neechan smiles.
「 Fujimiya-san is in there, but don’t mind her 」
Rei-chan/
「 She’s feeling nervous before the operation so don’t talk to her too much 」
Oh, I see.
「 Right, I’m going then 」
「 We’ll call you once it’s time. We’ll let you watch the operation from this room 」
Shou-neechan said.
◇ ◇ ◇
Err, Staff Room 3 it is.
Knock knock.
「 Yes? 」
Rei-chan’s voice is depressed.
「 I’m coming in, Rei-chan 」
「 Ah 」
I open the door without waiting for a reply.
Rei-chan:
She’s sitting on the chair wearing the gallant-looking black uniform Katsuko-nee fixed during the day.
She’s not wearing the hat.
It’s a dim room with only one fluorescent light. The space is around 5 tatami mat.
It’s a tasteless room with only a conference and pipe chairs only.
There’s nobody here but Rei-chan.
「 You really came 」
Rei-chan said as she looks at me.
「 Sorry, I can’t be of any use though 」
That’s right, I just came.
I don’t have the ability to fight together with Rei-chan.
「 No, I’m glad that you came 」
Rei-chan blushed and said.
「 Ah, the lunch box and tea are in here 」
Rei-chan points at the lunch box and bottle of tea on the desk.
「 Rei-chan, did you eat already? 」
「 It’s the time before the operation 」
Rei-chan’s face turns dark.
「 Are you not eating? Then I’ll eat mine later 」
I smiled.
「 But 」
「 I can’t eat alone in front of someone who’s hungry 」
「 Is that so? 」
「 Don’t mind it, I’ll eat properly later 」
Katsuko-nee’s worried about me, so she sent a mail to Shou-neechan.
If I don’t eat, then I’ll get punished.
「 Rei-chan, what’s wrong. Are you scared? 」
Rei-chan.
「 Yeah, a bit scared 」
It’s a closed space with just the two of us.
Rei-chan’s heart feels depressed.
「 I know how strong Kyouko-san well 」
After the fight against Cesario Viola, Rei-chan has lived with Kyouko-san.
That person is strong.
「 You don’t need to mind it, she’s not coming to kill you 」
I hold Rei-chan’s hand.
「! 」
Rei-chan’s surprised.
「 This is a show. Kyouko-san made the scenario, so Rei-chan only needs to act as the protagonist of the show 」
「 Act? Am I the protagonist? 」
I smile and nod.
「 That’s right. I came to watch Rei-chan, the protagonist! 」
Rei-chan:
「 It’s not to look after that girl? 」
That girl?
Ah.
「 Yukino isn’t family 」
I feel my heart is clear.
I have no regrets.
「 But, Rei-chan and Shou-neechan are my precious family. I like you two. I love you both 」
「 I 」
Rei-chan looks at me.
「 Everyone in the family is all lovely, but 」
「 But what? 」
「 Is it okay for a woman like me to stay/ 」
I.
「 It’s okay. Everyone loves Rei-chan. 」
「 But 」
「 What about Rei-chan? Do you not want to be in our family? 」
「 I don’t dislike it, but 」
「 Well then, it’s just a matter of courage 」
Rei-chan looks at me surprised.
「 If Rei-chan doesn’t muster her courage then she can’t do anything from here onwards 」
I won’t force her.
Her life is her choice.
「 But, I’m not worried, I know that Rei-chan is courageous 」
Rei-chan looks at me.
「 I finally understand why Michi-san gave her virginity to you before fighting Cesario Viola 」
Huh?
「 That was Michi-chan’s courage. Her mind and body headed to the battlefield as your woman 」
Back then, from the emergency evacuation room, we had our resolve for death when we head out to fight Cesario Viola.
「 Therefore, I thought of giving my chastity right now but 」
Rei-chan?
「 I don’t have the resolve like Michi-chan. I don’t have the confidence to fight while enduring the pain from deflowering 」
Michi could fight right away even though she just lost her virginity, but.
Rei-chan isn’t confident about it.
「 We don’t have the time 」
Kouzuki security service’s units are already on standby.
Rei-chan needs to move out.
「 Isn’t it okay to go out like that? 」
I said.
「 Body relationship isn’t everything. What’s important is always the heart 」
「 You 」
Rei-chan shakes off her hesitation.
「 You see, even I don’t have confidence in myself. But, I can’t say that in front of them can I? If I look worried, then everyone will be lost 」
That’s right.
「 I’m the man, so I have to tough out! I’m the only man in the family 」
Rei-chan looks at me.
「 Rei-chan, what do you want to be? What do you want to be your role in our family? 」
「 Role? 」
「 Yeah, if you want to stay as the little sister in the family like now then that’s okay. I’ll protect Rei-chan as her big brother, I’ll defend Rei-chan forever 」
「 Me. Little sister? 」
「 That’s right. We recognize that Rei-chan wants a family’s protection, so we look at Rei-chan as a little sister 」
Therefore, Rei-chan is Rei-chan.
「 But, I’m older than you 」
「 The age doesn’t matter here! I’m asking what Rei-chan wants! I want to do what Rei-chan wishes me to do 」
「 Why? 」
That’s.
「 Because we’re family. We’re a family since a long time ago! 」
Rei-chan’s eyes get moist.
「 Rei-chan, remember the faces of everyone in the family 」
「 Okay 」
「 Kyouko-san, Minaho-neesan, Shou-neechan, Katsuko-nee, Nagisa, Margo-san 」
I tell her the names of the senior group.
「 Nei, Misuzu, Megu, edie, Michi, Ruriko 」
Then.
「 Mana, Agnes, Mao-chan 」
I take a pause.
「 Rei-chan, what do you want to be in the family? 」
Rei-chan speaks.
「 I want to become an Onee-san after all 」
「 An Onee-san to who? 」
I speak the names from the bottom up.
「 Mao-chan’s onee-san? 」
「 Yes 」
「 Agnes? 」
「 Yes 」
「 Mana? 」
「 Yes 」
「 Ruriko? 」
「 Yes 」
「 Michi? 」
「 Yes 」
「 Edie? 」
「 Yes 」
「 Megu? 」
「 Yes 」
Ah, I forgot this earlier.
I’ll put myself here.
「 Me? 」
Rei-chan falters.
「 I don’t feel like you’re my little brother 」
「 Then, Misuzu who’s older than me? 」
「 Misuzu-sama feels more mature 」
「 Nei? 」
「 She’s more mature 」
Okay, I got it now.
Rei-chan’s spiritual age within the family is the same as me, 16 years old.
「 Got it, then Rei-chan is on the same age as me 」
「 Huh 」
「 It’s okay. Think of it as that way 」
「 Okay 」
「 Well then, Rei-chan shouldn’t be embarrassed with her little sisters 」
Rei-chan’s eyes shine.
「 You need to look like the “Cool Onee-san” for Mao-chan, Agnes, Mana, Ruriko, and Michi. You need to cool your head for that 」
「 Yes 」
「 You don’t want to disappoint them, do you? It doesn’t matter if you act it out, you can play tough, everyone looks forward to Rei-chan’s success 」
I hug Rei-chan.
「 Ah 」
「 You can do it, Rei-chan 」
I kiss Reika’s lips.
「 T-Thank you. Uhm, why 」
Rei-chan asks me.
「 Why do you always cheer me up? You even came here tonight for this weak me 」
I found the answer in my conversation with Rei-chan.
「 Even I want to look like the “cool guy” for Rei-ichan 」
That’s right, this is why.
I came here riding a helicopter.
「 I don’t want to disappoint Rei-chan so even if I have to bear with it, I will come even crawling just for Rei-chan 」
No, it’s not just Rei-chan.
Shou-neechan too.
Misuzu and Ruriko believed that I will surely head to Green mountain studio if there’s a way to make it in time.
Minaho-neesan, Katsuko-nee, and also Michi pushed me forward without saying anything.
I don’t want to disappoint everyone.
「 I need to do it for everyone in the family that believes in me. No, I will do it. I already did 」
I chose this life.
Rei-chan:
「 I see onw. I will do it too! 」
She kisses me.
「 That’s right, everyone in the family is expecting from me, so I feel sorry for everyone if I don’t fight here 」
Rei-chan.
She slaps herself with both hands.
「 I need to switch over! I’ll become someone my little sisters be proud of 」
Her face turns satisfied.
There’s will to fight in her eyes.
She stands up and looks at the window.
There’s a dignified woman dressed in black uniform on the other side of the window glass.
Rei-chan takes her hat and wears it.
「 This is me. The look my family sent me out to fight 」
Rei-chan’s standing posture looks cool.
「 I know what I should do now 」
She holds to her battle cane placed on the side.
「 I’ll use nothing but this! 」
Then, she smiled looking at me.
「 I’ll start calling you “My lord” 」
Huh?
「 Because that’s very much like me 」
Then, she holds my hand and kisses it.
「 I swear my undying loyalty to you 」