Chapter 565. Solution
Then, Shou-neechan’s car sends me to the helicopter.
Unlike when we went there, the motor isn’t spinning yet.
Back then, as soon as chief Yazawa arrived at the helipad, we flew right away. The guy in charge starts the engine beforehand.
Chief Yazawa’s already present inside the helicopter now.
Kyouko-san and Miss Cordelia too, wearing Kouzuki security service uniform.
They’re covering themselves with a helmet, so you can’t tell who they are from a distance.
「 Thanks, Shou-neechan 」
I thanked her and tried to get off the car.
「 Uhm 」
Shou-neechan calls me.
「 What? 」
I turned around, Shou-neechan:
「 Err 」
She’s hesitating
I.
「 Rei-chan said she’ll come to the mansion later, what about Shou-neechan? 」
「 I’m going too 」
She replied.
「 Then, see you later 」
I smile at Shou-neechan.
「 Yeah, you’re right 」
Yeah
Therefore, there’s no need to talk about complicated stuff here.
「 Then, take care. Shou-neechan 」
「 You too 」
I get off the car and get in the helicopter.
Shou-neechan flashes up the right signal repeatedly then turned her car.
Shou-neechan must be busy withdrawing work from the studio.
「 I’ll be flirting with Cordelia on the rear seat so take the front 」
Kyouko-san tells me.
Ugh, the passenger seat. Really?
I’m afraid to open my eyes in front but, I have no choice.
Kyouko-san and Miss Cordelia get in, I also board in.
Chief Yazawa talks to Kyouko-san while checking the pilot equipment.
「 Are you sure, Kyouko? 」
「 Huh, about what? 」
Kyouko-san asks back.
「 How long are you going to keep it a secret to this boy? 」
「 Why should I? Minaho or Katsuko will be explaining once we return anyway, right? 」
She answers bluntly.
「 But still, he’s reticent. It’s my first time seeing a man who never gets in the way 」
Miss Cordelia looks at me from the back seat.
「 He’s been quiet all the time during the uproar. He was just quietly watching so he won’t get in our way 」
「 No, even if you say that 」
I reply to Miss Cordelia.
「 I’m just brought here as an extra. I don’t stand for any role 」
Then, Kyouko-san.
「 That’s not true. It was essential to bother to bring you here. Thanks to you, Reika-chan has calmed down 」
She tells me.
「 Yes. I mean, if an ordinary guy is brought to that place, he would be making a lot of noise saying “What’s that?” “What’s going on?” “Do it this way,” “If that were me, I would do this,” right? That’s why I hate men 」
Miss Cordelia said then sent a gaze to chief Yazawa.
It seems that she’s feeling displeased with his question “Are you sure, Kyouko?”
「 Well, sorry about that 」
Chief Yazawa snorts his nose.
「 But, I’m also a man. I’m filled with curiosity too 」
Saying that. She looked at me.
「 Are you not afraid? 」
What?
「 Kyouko is now a bomb terrorist. And you know the fearsome conspiracy of Kouzuki service and Kyouko. Do you not think of people like us as dangerous?
Why?
「 Do you not imagine getting pushed out of the helicopter along the way? 」
Err.
「 Uhm, well, if that happens, I can do nothing about it 」
I replied.
「 Can’t do anything? 」
Chief Yazawa’s shocked.
「 Yes. That’s only an afterthought 」
「 Afterthought? 」
「 Before anything, getting to the helicopter is scary. 」 All I had to do is believe and entrust my life to Yazawa-san 」
「 But you don’t trust me that much, do you? 」
Hmm.
「 Well, I do, on its own way 」
「 What do you mean by that/ 」
「 Yazawa-san doesn’t do meaningless things. If there’s merit on killing me then you would, if there wasn’t, then you won’t 」
「 Yeah, I see 」
Chief Yazawa’s convinced.
「 But, what if someone who benefits from it without you knowing? I might suddenly kill you, you know? 」
「 Then there’s nothing I can do by then 」
I answered right away.
「 Are you just giving up? 」
「 I mean, I’m already dead before I notice it, right? I’m sure that Yazawa-san or Kyouko-san has a method to make sure that I’m killed 」
They’d kill me instantly making sure that I can’t be revived later.
Just like how Miss Cordelia killed Ruriko’s father.
「 You’re quite philosophical 」
「 No, that’s not it, Minaho-neesan is 」
「 What about Minaho? 」
Kyouko-san asks me.
「 Minaho-neesan didn’t come and left everything to Kyouko-san. She knows that I would go here 」
Katsuko-nee contacted Shou-neechan means that Minaho-neesan knows.
「 Therefore, I have nothing to worry about 」
If it really is dangerous, then Minaho-neesan won’t send me alone.
「 But, Minaho’s not omnipotent. You know that there are cases where things go out of her expectations, right? 」
Kyouko-san asks me.
「 Yes, But, I believe Minaho-neesan, I don’t regret dying even if Minaho-neesan’s expectations went off 」
Yeah, if my luck goes bad, I have to give up.
「 I see, is that why you don’t ask us anything? 」
Miss Cordelia laughs.
「 You know that things that are happening in front of you are strange, right? 」
Even I do know that strange things are happening.
But.
「 But, I’ve only seen one side of what happened 」
What I only saw is the broadcast from the operation room and Kyouko-san’s exchange.
「 You can’t see the whole thing just from one side 」
「 Hmm, it doesn’t seem that your intuition is dull 」
Chief Yazawa tells me.
「 I mean, even though there’s so much happening, Yazawa-san only said “Isn’t that a bit too much?” and yet Shou-neechan’s calm, and Kyouko-san’s calm as well 」
That’s right. Back then, Everyone:
They just watch what’s happening as usual.
In short.
「 Everything was just as planned, isn’t it? 」
Kyouko-san:
「 I see now why Minaho accepted you 」
She smiles.
Just like an elementary school boy who found something to play at.
「 Indeed, you’re also someone on this side 」
Chief Yazawa.
「 You also are suited to Misuzu-sama’s judgment. I also accept you. Young boy 」
Then, he starts the helicopter engine.
「 It will get noisy for a while so enjoy watching the night view instead! 」
◇ ◇ ◇
Actually, once the helicopter flies up, you can’t have a conversation because of the noise and vibration.
Chief Yazawa’s wearing a radio headphone.
I’m also doing all I can just clinging on the seatbelt.
I don’t want to ride any more helicopters after this.
The difficult time ends, and the helicopter comes back to the hotel in the city.
We arrive at the rooftop heliport.
「 WHEN GETTING OFF! BE CAREFUL OF THE ROTOR BLADES! 」
「 I KNOW! 」
Chief Yazawa and I shout at each other, trying to be louder than the helicopter’s noise.
I lower my head, squat and get off the helicopter.
Then.
Nei and Edie are with the members of Kouzuki security service who’s coming to meet us.
「 Welcome back! Yo-chan! 」
Oh, Nei also knew that I went to Green Mountain Studio.
Then that means that all the elder sisters know.
Edie hugs me on the back.
「 WOOOOH HOOOOOO!!!! 」1
Oh, she’s making a check on Miss Cordelia?
「 The dinner at the Chinese restaurant has ended, everyone’s back the Junior suite from earlier, so I came to pick you up! 」
Nei smiles at me.
I see, Margo-san’s escorting everyone in the family.
Nei had Edie escort her to here.
「 My, you really look cute now 」
Miss Cordelia look at Edie and said.
「 Did you make her a woman already? 」
Miss Cordelia asks.
「 Later, right, Yo-chan? 」
Nei replies instead of me.
「 Oh, I see 」
Miss Cordelia smiles.
「 Cordelia, you and I are going to report to old man Kouzuki 」
Kyouko-san tells her.
「 Nei, I’ll show up later so tell Minaho not to leave right away 」
「 Okay, got it! Kyouko-san! 」
Kyouko-san and Miss Cordelia go to the elevator first.
「 Wait, I’m getting in too 」
Chief Yazawa who received the report during his absence from his subordinate jumps to the elevator.
When the door closed and Miss Cordelia’s gone, Edie finally calms down.
「 Haufuuu 」
She sighs quite long.
She’s still hugging me from behind.
「 What’s wrong, Yo-chan? 」
Nei asks me.
「 Helicopters are scary. I feel my feet still shaking 」
「 That’s not it 」
Err.
「 Yeah, Rei-chan’s okay now 」
「 That’s not it either but, sure! 」
The next elevator comes.
We ride in it.
◇ ◇ ◇
We then walk in the hotel without saying anything.
Although I can’t tell if there are some eavesdropping microphones around, it has become common sense, so I’m not saying anything.
Then, we pass through the watchmen from Kouzuki security service and return to the Junior Suite that’s prepared as Misuzu and Ruriko’s dressing room.
「 Ah, Onii-chan, welcome back! Where’s Misuzu-san? 」
Mana greets me.
Oh right, Mana and the others think that I’ve been on the lower floor, at the party with Misuzu and Ruriko.
「 Well, Misuzu and Ruriko are with Jii-chan, greeting a lot of people. I don’t have a place there, so I came back 」
「 Oh right. Michi-san is with them, so it’s safe 」
Mana’s convinced.
「 Welcome back! Papa! 」
「 Welcome back, desuno 」
「 Welcome back, Yoshi-kun 」
Oops, Mao-chan, Agnes, and Megu are coming.
「 The meals were really delicious! 」
「 The table was spinning! 」
Mao-chan and Agnes are excited about the meals at the Chinese restaurant.
「 The shrimp was amazingly delicious! 」
Megu, you too?
I guess. She never tried eating luxury Chinese cuisine at a first class hotel.
I wanted to eat too.
「 Yoshi-kun, how were the meals at the party? 」
Err.
I saw them lined up from a distance, but.
I left the venue by the time everyone’s eating and talking.
「 He wasn’t able to eat that much! It’s very unnerving to be at that party, right? 」
Nei follows up.
「 Yeah, there were foreigners in there too 」
Megu sympathizes.
Actually, I only ate the lunch box bought by Shou-neechan.
「 Uhm, by the way, 」
I change the topic.
「 Was everyone watching the TV? 」
Then.
「 Yes. Everyone was watching the TV in the private room of the restaurant 」
Megu replied.
Then that means that the case at Green mountain studio was broadcasted.
「 Then, what happened? 」
I asked.
「 Rei-chan was so cool! 」
「 Yeah, Rei-chan is so strong 」
「 Rei-chan was amazing. I’m sure that she made a lot of fans! 」
「 Good Job! 」
Mao-chan, Agnes, Mana, and Edie only talk about Rei-chan.
I mean, it’s excellent that Rei-chan’s popular, but.
「 That’s right, Reika-oneesan looked gallant and beautiful 」
Megu said.
「 But, how much of that broadcast is true, Yoshi-kun? 」
What?
「 To be honest, I couldn’t even tell if it was true or just a lie 」
Err.
「 During the first part, I can’t quite understand why Yukino and others were in that castle 」
「 The announcer was wearing a wig! 」
「 It was smooth and shiny 」
Megu, Mana, Agnes?
「 That’s why we thought of it as a joke. Then, Kyouko-san suddenly entered 」
「 Everyone was wearing tiger masks again 」
「 Mao also wore that! 」
I see. Those who were watching the TV doesn’t know what makes sense.
「 On the second part, it got even harder to understand. Why is Kyouko-san talking to comedians? 」
「 No, Megu-oneechan, that one was funny. Kyouko-san was pointing out the failures 」
Mana said.
「 That time is always the time where the same performers do the show, everyone thought that it might’ve been a prank show 」
「 I see, there was a teletop showing up at the end of broadcast too 」
Teletop? Megu?
「 The parts where who does the lights, directing, production, some company names 」
「 Yeah, when the teletop showed, the music at the end is usual for the program 」
Mana said.
「 Also, there was an end card even though it’s a show 」
「 Mana, what’s an end card? 」
「 Onii-chan, you don’t know? See, it’s the part where there’s an illustration at the end of an anime, and they say “See you next week” 」
So that’s what an end card is.
「 I was surprised, Reika-oneesan became an anime illustration 」
「 That was from a manga artist Apiko Abi. It’s rare to see Apiko-sensei drawing end cards 」
Mana said.
In short, what went on?
「 Uhm, Kyouko-san said that she set up bombs 」
「 Oh, yeah, that happened too 」
Megu’s laughing.
「 I mean, wasn’t there an explosion? 」
「 Yes, that was surprising 」
「 Agnes-chan and I were laughing out loud! 」
「 Huh, why? Mana? 」
「 Because there was a “3. 2. 1. 0” countdown before the explosion on the screen 」
Oh, if they do it like that, it would look like a joke.
「 Then, what about the bombs set all over Japan after that? 」
「 I wonder about it, didn’t she say it was Yukino’s waistline? 」
「 I can’t laugh at that one. 54 is too much 」
「 But, Kyouko-san made it feel surreal, didn’t she? 」
「 Hmm, It wasn’t much of a success I guess 」
Megu and Mana said.
Oh.
It seems that they haven’t seen it as a serious show.
I guess.
I know what’s behind the scenes, but.
The ordinary people watching don’t get what’s going on.
It was initially time for comedy programs after all.
「 I mean, Kyouko-san even mentioned that she’s an internationally wanted criminal 」
Mana said.
「 A person who knows a lot and complains about Japanese entertainment industry. It was surreal 」
「 Seriously, you can’t see her as a scary criminal at all 」
「 That’s right, Megu-oneechan, Kyouko-san might be aiming for surreal laughs 」
「 But, the second part isn’t that funny for me. Reika-oneesan came in again, and it was amusing to see her split the toy bomb in half 」
「 Yeah, that was fun. It was a bomb, yet she pummeled, then Snatch’s reaction was just perfect! 」
「 Rei-chan looked so cool! 」
「 Rei-chan! Cool! 」
Err.
「 You’re right, Reika-oneesan’s impression will remain among all others after watching 」
Megu.
「 I never knew that one could look so good on TV 」
「 Seriously, Rei-chan on the TV was beautiful, her behavior is gallant, she’s a beauty, and she’s not feeling shy when she acts 」
No, Mana, Rei-chan was serious.
Wherever. Whenever.
「 The attention of the broadcast was only onto Reika-oneesan 」
Megu said.
Megu. She’s the one with the best senses when it comes to ordinary things among our family.
「 I’m sure she’ll be a big star, compared to that 」
Mana said.
「 Kyouko-san’s TV debut is a bit worrying 」
Nei’s just listening to our conversation while smiling.
「 Huh, were you watching too Onii-chan? Weren’t you at the party? 」
Ah.
「 There was a waiting room for Kouzuki-san at the back of the party venue, that’s why he was able to watch at intervals on the way 」
Nei smoothed it over.
「 Oh, welcome back! Come here! 」
The other room’s door opens, and Katsuko-nee calls me.
「 Ojou-sama would like to ask how did the party go 」
「 Ah got it, I’m going then 」
I tell Megu and the girls.
「 Ah, Yo-chan, I’m going too 」
Nei also follows.
「 Eeh, I want to be with Papa more! 」
Mao-chan says, but.
「 No, I’m just having a talk, I’ll be back right away 」
「 Really? 」
「 Really 」
「 Then I’ll wait 」
I.
「 Megu, Mana. Look after Mao-chan and Agnes 」
「 Yes, take care, Yoshi-kun 」
「 Yeah, be fast. Onii-chan 」
I go with Nei to the other room.
Wait, Edie.
You’re still clinging to me.
「 Miiiiiii! 」
Well, I don’t mind.
Edie continues to cling to me.
It’s been a while since she last saw Miss Cordelia, so she probably doesn’t want to be left alone.
◇ ◇ ◇
Minaho-neesan and everyone in the other room were watching TV.
No, they’re all using laptops.
Margo-san, Katsuko-nee, and Nagisa too.
「 The news conference about Compal Arts shutting down just started 」
Minaho-neesan tells me.
That’s.
Indeed, an important-looking old man is talking with a teary face on the screen.
「 That’s all because Kyouko-san set up bombs? 」
I asked.
「 That’s only on the outside, their relationship with a gang is revealed to the public, so they have no choice but to discontinue business in compliance with industry 」
Katsuko-nee replied.
「 Tea 」
Tea is presented to me.
「 T-Thanks 」
But still.
「 What’s going on? I don’t get it 」
From what Megu and the girls talked about, Kyouko-san’s broadcast became really hard to understand in the end.
At least, it wasn’t received as a serious one.
Yet, Compal Arts closed down as Kyouko-san ordered them.
「 Compal Arts were scheduled to close down tonight from the start 」
Minaho-neesan?
「 They’re becoming too big in the entertainment production that Compal Arts is stuck. In these past few years, the cash flow has deteriorated, and there were no prospects of improvement. But, the TV stations, advertising agencies banking them, and even the gangs involved invested too much that they can’t be taken down easily 」
「 But, the way Compal Arts appoint talents on the TV stations and other media had pushed them to the limits 」
Katsuko-nee supplements.
「 During the economic bubble burst, the advertising expenses of Japanese companies are decreasing so to make use of one entertainment professional, they push some meaningless talents, it makes things difficult 」
「 In short, the industry wants to slim down Compal Arts 」
「 Then, only the popular talents who belong to Compal Arts will be taken to another company, the managers will also transfer 」
「 They’ll break down the company that has grown too big 」
Then that means.
「 Then, Kyouko-san’s order has nothing to do with this press conference? 」
「 That’s not the case 」
Minaho-neesan smiles.
「 Why do you think that this company that got too big can’t be fixed? 」
「 Because gangs were involved 」
Margo-san said.
「 That’s because Compal Arts started business post-war, they can’t be free from obstacles. Even gangs don’t feel like letting go. They can have a significant influence on TV stations and entertainment circles through Compal Arts 」
I see.
Compal Arts’ managers and affiliated companies think that it’s better to liquidate.
Then they’ll escape from their past weirs and set up a new small company.
But, only the gangs want Compal Arts to stay big like before.
「 Therefore, the company side wants a legitimate reason to destroy Compal Arts 」
That being Kyouko-san’s bombs?
「 Even the gangs in Japan’s underground society knows Kyouko Messer. Well, she just went and attacked a gang on their head office the other day 」
Oh, Kyouko-san did that, right.
「 Kyouko-san’s bombs were real, it’s not just the company of Compal arts, but also the company of the shareholders and business partners is targeted so they can no longer do business 」
Margo-san said.
「 Then, were the gangs convinced? 」
「 They won’t, of course. But look, Kyouko-san’s bombs were also delivered to the gang’s office too 」
Oh.
They’re forced.
「 Then, as for the closing down interview, they won’t say anything about the bombs closing down their business no matter what 」
「 Why? 」
「 Japan is a law-abiding nation, so they won’t just yield to terrorism. Though the gangs right now are in disorder so on the public, they will close down their business because of their close relationship with the gangs. Using that reason, the new company born from Compal Arts will break up their relationship with the gangs 」
I see.
「 Then, were all ten bombs Kyouko-san set up are all found? 」
「 Yes, it seems that they did, but they didn’t make it public however 」
Katsuko-nee says while looking at her laptop.
「 At least, it won’t be in the news for now 」
「 Huh, but they were found, right? 」
Finding a bomb in itself is a big fuss.
「 Kyouko-san’s bombs were on a ridiculous level. It’s the latest high-explosive bomb. It can be detonated remotely, or with a timer, it’s a digital type 」
「 However, all the ten bombs found didn’t have blasting powder 」
Margo-san?
「 It’s just Kyouko-san’s performance, she’s showing that she can set up these scale of bombs anywhere in Japan if she wants to. The police wouldn’t want to announce that. Therefore, they will pretend that all the bombs found are just fakes 」
「 Even the companies will do the same. Before the police could come, Kudou-san’s subordinates took out the bomb in front of the security officer of their companies. Everyone’s surprised to see how it was able to bypass though their security 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 And the bombs over there don’t have blasting powder either. They don’t want to make it a big deal so the companies won’t make report damage 」
Margo-san smiles.
「 As expected, Kyouko-san was able to show her terror to the police and some of the large companies while having it broadcasted all over the country 」
The people watching the TV will only think “What’s with this strange show?”
The big companies and the police that know Kyouko-san is scared enough to shudder.
「 By the way, one hour before today’s broadcast, we were spreading rumors on the internet about “Compal Arts seems to go out of business because their relationship with the gangs is exposed” 」
Nei said.
「 Of course, Snatch and the others in the studio doesn’t know about it 」
But, doesn’t that mean?
「 Yes, Snatch and the other suddenly hears about Compal Arts suddenly shutting down, so he snapped and forcibly broadcasted a surreal show, that’s the story now 」
No, but.
Isn’t that a bit too forced?
「 Nufufu! Yo-chan, people believe things only after investigating it! 」
Nei beckons me to a laptop.
「 Look at this! 」
Nei moves the mouse.
「 You see, this is a homepage for a small entertainment office in Nagoya 」
Yeah, they feel like a homepage of a company in Tokyo.
「 Then, when you click on their affiliate talents 」
Nei presses the mouse button.「 」
Ah!
The talents lined up here show some masks I’ve seen before.
「 Yes, Kyouko Messer is a comedian in Nagoya! 」
It’s a woman with a good build, her face is covered with a black tiger mask.
Indeed, there’s “East Sea Black Panther Kyouko Messer” written as her name.
「 Click on her provile! 」
Click.
「 Kyouko Messer’s 35 years old. She’s a big body comedian in Nagoya 」
「 Could this mean… 」
「 It’s spread on the internet! And if you include the impression of those who watched the broadcast for today 」
Nei clicks.
『 So she was a comedian from Nagoya/ 』
『 To think that she found faults on Snatch and others who aren’t popular 』
『 To think that she included it in the joke 』
『 That’s not funny at all! 』
『 I’ve seen them in Nagoya, but they’re not that popular 』
『 She only came out on Oosu’s stage once! 』
『 Then, she’s really a newbie? 』
Haa.
「 The guy who’s wearing a tiger mask on Nagoya is a different person though! But, Kyouko-san’s appearance on today’s broadcast makes her an entertainer 」
Seriously, they’re good at this.
「 The Japanese will recognize Kyouko Messer as a comedian. A criminal with the same name on a distant foreign country won’t mind that, would she? 」
Margo-san laughs.
「 Wait for a second, then what about Rei-chan’s fight? 」
「 Rei-chan has a track record on her student days with Kendo. You can watch her old matches on the internet too. It’s not strange for a sportsman with achievements to participate in promotional activities of Kouzuki security service 」
Margo-san said.
「 But, Rei-chan was seriously trying to be a hero 」
To orient her position in the family.
「 We know, that’s why, Kyouko-san, Shou-neechan, and Yazawa-san were acting like it was a serious fight in Rei-chan’s presence, didn’t they? 」
I see. It was for Rei-chan’s sake.
「 Your conversation in the operation room was heard by Reika-san 」
Minaho-neesan.
「 Reika-san takes it seriously so this promotion has it’s worth! 」