「 She wanted to meet with Kou-kun no matter what 」
Marika tells me.
「 Huh, Marika-oneesama, you mean that someone wants to be family with Onee-sama? 」
It seems that it’s also Erica’s first time hearing it.
Marika’s a conservative girl and she doesn’t speak that much, so she probably didn’t tell anyone until she was ready to talk to me.
「 That’s not it 」
Marika replied.
「 She’s just a precious friend of mine 」
Marika’s school is an all-girls boarding school, so the friend who lives with her that wants to see me must be more than one.
「 Kou-kun, I want you to go give counsel to her. I don’t have anyone that I can rely on after all 」
Marika looks straight at me.
「 Okay, err, I’m going to be busy today until noon so bring them after 」
Minaho-neesan made an arrangement where National TV will come and cover the bakery at the school festival.
「 Maybe two hours later. I’m sure that lunch time’s crowd will be gone 」
「 Okay. I’ll come at that time 」
Marika took out her phone, trying to send mail to her friends right away.
「 Marika, there’s no signal in this room. I mean, there are only two rooms in this building that has cell service 」
The mansion is a former brothel used to cater to politicians and businessmen, so any radio waves are blocked to prevent information leaks.
Marika’s been my woman only for a short time, and she stays in the mansion only on Saturdays and Sundays, so she doesn’t know.
「 You know the address, right? If so, then you can use my PC 」
Margo-san told Marika.
「 Or do you want to send it from your phone? Then I can give you a ride out 」
Margo-san’s going to drive out?
「 I just need to get you back to Yoshinobu-kun’s school by 2, right? Look, Edie’s invited Line Haruko-san to the school festival today as well so I’m going to pick her up 」
Oh right, Edie’s school swimsuit judo tournament.
Line Haruko-san is the only high-school student among the competitors she met at the convention the other day.
If I recall, she’s in the creative martial arts Golden Balm Gym, and the disciple of Rodulfo Seiko-san, right?
「 Line Haruko-san’s living in the gym so it’ll take about an hour for a one-way trip, and another to make it back. Well, we might also take a break and have some tea when we reach there 」
Margo-san’s the head of the women’s martial artist expansion plan to America, and Edie’s picking up the slack even if she’s already made a commitment
「 Sorry about that Margo-san, Edie just made the decision by herself 」
I apologized since Edie decided to do the school swimsuit judo tournament without Margo-san’s consent.
Furthermore, it’s not just a school festival event, but also a TV broadcast.
「 No, it’s good. This is just within Minaho’s plan 」
Minaho-neesan’s plan? What?
I also met Agrippina-san earlier.
「 Anyway, Erica-san and Marika-san can come with me. All the other girls are helping out at the bakery, but you can’t help out, right? 」
Agnes and the girls are going to make simple pastries to sell as souvenirs from the mansion to sell at the school festival.
「 I learned the basics, but Marika-oneesama 」
「 I can’t do it 」
Erica only stays in the mansion for half of the week, meanwhile, Marika’s staying over on Saturdays, but our bakery doesn’t open on Sundays, so she can’t help out.
Marika hardly has opportunities to make pastry with everyone else.
「 Me too, so that’s why I’m going out 」
Margo-san smiled.
「 I’m going too. I want to take a look at Rodulfo’s gym 」
Marinka-san, who’s eating at the same table as Margo-san, said.
「 You can go, Erica and Marika. Marika, you can send your message to your friend while Margo-san’s driving, also… 」
I…
「 Tell your friend to come to the nearby station, and then, Rei-chan 」
I talked to Rei-chan at the other table.
「 Yes, what is it? 」
「 I want to use Kouzuki SS, guard Marika’s friend, and drive them from the station to our school 」
The defense should be perfect.
「 Marika, even if you go out with Margo-san, you still will return here by noon, right? Then, Marika can ride the pickup car and meet your friend 」
「 Then I’ll go too. I’m free 」
Kinosh*ta-san on the other table raised her hand.
「 I stood out too much yesterday so I can’t go back to the school festival without a disguise 」
Yeah, she went in to take down the rebels of Kouzuki SS that entered our school yesterday.
Kinosh*ta-san pretended to be a high-school girl from another school.
So if she appears at the school festival again today, the students will ask her.
「 Then, please do that 」
「 Okay~ Leave it to me! And so, you’re going to be guarding boss today, Anju-chan 」
Kinosh*ta-san smiled at Kurose Anju who was sitting next to her.
By boss, she meant me.
True, I’m the owner of Kouzuki SS.
「 Huh, Me? 」
Kurose Anju’s surprised.
She was the bodyguard of the Ishigami house until yesterday, but I took her from them and brought her to the mansion without hesitation.
She doesn’t seem to get why this happened, but I just ignored that and plan to make her family.
「 Don’t worry about it, Edie-san, Mitama-san, and Kinuka-san’s with Boss, and Fujimiya-san’s staying over today, right? 」
「 Yes. I’m off-duty today, so I’ll be checking what’s going on here in the mansion and shuttling back and forth here and the school 」
Rei-chan’s going to deliver the pastries Agnes and the girl makes every few hours.
「 I’ll also be watching Kurose-san through the cameras so don’t worry 」
「 Huh, but… 」
Kurose Anju is still uneasy.
She looks at Haiji next to her, but Haiji just smiled back and continued eating.
「 Don’t worry about it, it’s even better if you’re feeling a bit afraid. Right, Fujimiya-san? 」
「 Indeed, there’s never a dull moment when we’re with our Lord. I can attest to that 」
Rei-chan said with a smile.
◇ ◇ ◇
We finished eating our breakfast in a hurry.
Then, I jumped to the mansion’s bakery.
We put all the pre-baked bread pads that Ai and the girls prepared last night in Katsuko-nee’s van.
Wow, we already doubled our usual volume at this point.
「 Ai really worked hard 」
「 It’s not just Ai…everyone also helped out 」
Ai smiled.
「 Sorry, I wasn’t able to help out 」
「 Don’t worry…Yoshida-kun had things to do too…so you did 」
「 I need you to bake more in the morning anyway so get in the car 」
Katsuko-nee’s in high tension.
「 Oh, we’ll split into two groups, the car and walking group 」
We can’t get everyone going to school in the car.
The girls had the priority the other day, and I was in the walking group, but…
I have to get in the car today since we’re short on bakers.
「 Anyway, Ai-chan and you get in the car, also Megu-chan 」
Katsuko-nee said.
「 You won’t make it in time with the track and field club if you walk 」
「 Sorry, Katsuko-oneesan 」
Katsuko-nee’s driving, then Megu and Ai went to the rear seat.
I’m in the trunk.
「 I’ll get in too 」
Huh, why is Rei-chan…
「 Katsuko-san’s going to start working in the bakery immediately, right? We need this car to bring the pastry from the mansion so I’ll drive it back 」
R-Right, it’s only this van that can bring the pads of pastries.
MArgo-san’s got the minivan, but that’s used for the Black Forest, and it has various things inside so we can’t use it.
「 Kurose-san, get in 」
Rei-chan called Kurose Anju.
「 I-I… 」
「 You’re a bodyguard, so you have to be next to him 」
「 Eeeh, Haiji-san?! 」
Kurose Anju asks for Haiji’s help. They’ve gotten close.
「 Take care. I’ll stay in the mansion to guard the people here 」
「 Stop idling around, get in! 」
Rei-chan then pulled Kurose Anju to the trunk
Err, is this okay?
She’s not a student in our school.
I mean, she skipped grades and graduated from high school, but she’s still 15.
Oh well.
Once she comes to the bakery, she can just go to the break room.
We’ve got monitoring in there, and we can keep in touch with the mansion.
And above all, learning by practice is best.
「 Tsukiko should get in too, Mitama and I will walk 」
Edie said.
Yeah, let’s not make the Takakura shrine maiden walk if possible.
Also.
「 I’ll be there later! The school festival starts in the morning for students, but only from 10am for outsiders 」
Nei said. Then, she looked at Mana and Kinuka.
「 Mana-chan and Kinuka-chan can get in after 10, so I’ll come with them 」
「 I’ll get them in the ride when I deliver the next batch 」
Right… it’ll help if they move together with Rei-chan.
「 Onii-chan, Mana will help out by 10, tell the tennis girls that 」
Mana said.
「 I’ll also come! 」
「 Kinuka-chan’s with me, so it shouldn’t be weird if we’re also there 」
The twins, who are coming to help, also said.
If Rie and Eri show up again, it’ll make a fuss again.
「 Sure, but, do it after lunch, we don’t want the crowd in the morning 」
Yesterday, the school festival committee was angry at us.
「 Anyway, come after the national TV coverage is over 」
「 Roger! 」
「 Okay, Onii-san 」
The twins smiled and saluted.
「 Papa! Leave this side to us! 」
Agnes, Mao-chan, Karen, Luna, and Koyomi-chan came to see us off.
Agnes and Mao-chan’s wearing my white coat and cap
Nagisa’s leaving to work at her flower shop.
「 Onii-sama, Ruriko will be here for them 」
Yeah, RUriko will be watching over Agnes in their pastry work in the mansion, so it should be okay
「 We’ll also stay 」
Motoko and Kurumi showed up.
The young ladies are house-sitting.
Arisu, Sakurako, and her bodyguard, Shie-san, also comes over.
Later, Misuzu, Michi, and Yoshiko-san will join them.
「 Anya and Kyouko will watch over Dolly and the girls. They say that they’ll give them counseling later 」
I don’t have to worry about Dolly and the girl assassins.
「 I will also guard the house until Fujimiya-san comes back 」
Kinosh*ta-san smiled.
Kinosh*ta-san, the demolisher, and Haiji, the cautious, are a good pair.
Yeah, there should be no problems.
「 Then, we’re going 」
「 Yo-chan, I’m closing the door 」
Nei closed the trunk of the van.
「 We’re departing 」
Katsuko-nee starts the van engine.
Barurururunnn
「 Take care! 」
「 Take care! 」
I hear my family sending me off, and the car departs.
Tsukiko, Rei-chan, Kurose Anju, and are in the cargo space.
It’s narrow, our shoulders are touching each other.
「 Rei-chan, you know… 」
I try to talk to her whisperingly.
「 I know, I’ll also drive Yukino-san in the car later 」
Rei-chan replied before I could complete it.
「 There are only three school festivals you can experience in high-school 」
Tsukiko also smiled at me.
◇ ◇ ◇
We went to the school through the back gate as usual.
「 Katsuko-oneesan, you can drop me off here 」
Megu shouts.
Yeah, the track and field club is closer here compared to dropping off at the bakery.
「 Yoshi-kun, I’m going! Once the meeting is over, I’ll help out in the bakery until it’s my time 」
「 Yeah, thanks, Megu, send the track and field club my regards. 」
I usually would kiss Megu, but there are too many pads between the seats and us today.
「 Okay, see you later 」
Megu got off the passenger seat and ran straight across.
Yeah, Megu’s beautiful when running.
「 Kou-sama loves that part of Megumi-san, right… 」
Tsukiko read my thoughts and said.
「 We’re here 」
Katsuko-nee parks the van next to the rear entrance of our bakery.
Katsuko-nee opens the door, Ai got off and opened the trunk.
「 Kurose-san, come with me 」
「 Yes, I understand 」
I’ll take Kurose Anju to the bakery before the students see her.
I open the door to the break room in the bakery.
「 Get in the room for now. Don’t move that device there until you get taught how to use it, okay? 」
「 Ah, okay 」
Good.
Now we’re carrying the pads in.
After we brought in the pads…
「 Reika-san, here’s the key. 」
「 Then, I’m returning now 」
Rei-chan took the key from Katsuko-nee and got into the driver’s seat.
「 Thanks, Rei-chan 」
「 Leave it to me 」
Rei-chan smiled at me.
Dorururun
The ban goes back to the mansion.
「 Now, let’s put on our coats and start working 」
Katsuko-nee closed the door to the bakery and said.
◇ ◇ ◇
Katsuko-nee, Ai, and me.
We heat the oven, put in the pads of pastry, and start our work.
「 The women’s tennis club is having a meeting in their clubroom, right? 」
Katsuko-nee asks me.
「 Yeah, they’re coming over after changing 」
Since it’s a bakery + tennis club cafe, the girls from the tennis club are wearing their uniforms as they attend in the store.
That’s why they change clothes in the club room, then come here after their morning meeting.
「 I think there are 15-20 minutes before they arrive. 」
I look at the clock on the wall and said.
「 I see, then let’s do the things that we can now 」
「 Ai, get your own bread 」
This time, we’ll have the girls from the tennis club make bread, but they can’t do the complicated stuff, so we’re doing that ourselves.
Furthermore, Ai has a slow, pace, so she can’t just do things along with others.
She’s already accustomed to baking so she’s not that slow in the process, but still.
Somehow, when you’re different from others, you try to speed, slow down, or work at your own pace.
Yet, the pastries Ai makes are carefully crafted, and exceptionally delicious.
「 Uhm, is there anything I can do to help? 」
Kurose Anju opens the door to the break room and asks.
「 No, just stay there. I mean, people will come here so you have to hide there 」
I stopped my hands and told her.
「 Listen, I’ll get the monitors up and running, and I’ll teach you how to use the simple ones 」
Katsuko-nee said and went to the break room.
Sh*t.
I should’ve brought Nei and Edie along.
I could’ve asked them to look after Kurose Anju.
No, it was wrong to bring Kurose Anju to begin with.
Either way, nobody else can get on the van.
Then.
「 Katsuko-oneesama, I’ll do that. I’ll teach her how to use the equipment 」
Tsukiko, who’s watching next to the wall, said.
「 But, Tsukiko-san doesn’t know how to use the monitors, right? 」
Katsko-nee said. Tsukiko.
「 I just understood now. I won’t touch the risky ones 」
Oh, she read Katsuko-nee’s Miko power.
The thought that came to Katsuko-nee’s mind while saying that she’s teaching Kurose Anju, are the details that she’s about to teach her.
「 Then, I’ll leave it to you 」
「 Can I use the tea set in that room? 」
Tsukiko also saw the furnishings in the room.
「 Yes, you can. You two can have tea 」
「 Thank you, come Kurose-san 」
Tsukiko pushes Kurose Anju to the break room.
「 We’ll calm down in this room so please continue your work 」
「 Yeah, please do, Tsukiko 」
I said.
「 Isn’t this room a bit dark? 」
Huh? Tsukiko?
「 No, we have turned on all the lights though? 」
「 Is that so? I must be overthinking it 」
Tsukiko smiles.
「 Oh, I forgot. The surveillance monitors aren’t on 」
Oh, I see.
The monitor screen I always use to check outside the bakery while working isn’t on.
「 Then, if you’d excuse me, Kou-sama, please remain calm when working so you don’t get hurt 」
Tsukiko said, entered the break room, and closed the door.
「 Usually, this is the first thing we do 」
Katsuko-nee turns on the monitor.
For us, monitoring the outside is the cornerstone of our defense.
To think that we forgot that, we lost our guard.
The monitor shows outside the school cafeteria.
There are not that many students, it’s still early.
It’s the second day of the school festival, so the preparations were finished yesterday.
Not many students come to school early in the morning
「 Kana-san and the girls are coming, I’ll unlock the door to the other side of the cafeteria 」
Katsuko-nee unlocks the door.
Then.
「 Uhm, Katsuko-oneesan 」
Ai speaks while kneading bread dough.
「 What? 」
「 Katsuko-oneesan…you’re being a bit weird today 」
I think so too.
She’s a bit excited, or rather, she’s in high tension.
「 Calm down…before everyone comes 」
「 Do I act that weirdly? 」
Katsuko-nee’s confused by what Ai said.
「 Katsuko-oneesan…one step, take one step at a time 」
「 Uhm, what do you mean? 」
「 Katsuko-oneesan…Yoshida-kun…and Ai’s bakery…is still three years later. It’s not today 」
Ai…
「 That’s why…even if the TV people came…and whatever they rate us…it doesn’t matter 」
Katsuko-nee’s getting nervous about the upcoming TV coverage?
「 But, it’s a rare chance you know! 」
I see.
Katsuko-nee’s been honing her baking skills to open a bakery in the future while living her hellish life as a prostitute.
Making bread is very important to Katsuko-nee.
So far, she’s teaching Ai and me how to make the pastry.
Selling bread in school as the pretense, she trains us how to make pastries.
It’s not Katsuko-nee’s pastry.
Even yesterday, during the first day of our school festival, she was confined in the bakery, not showing her face to the customers since she’s not a student.
That’s…
After yesterday’s closing, Katsuko-nee changed her thoughts to be participating in the school festival.
And to Katsuko-nee, who got kidnapped in spring in her first year, this is her first high-school festival.
That’s why it’s a big deal that the National TV is covering this event.
「 I… 」
She was supporting us until yesterday, but today, she’s thinking of someone involved.
I think, that Minaho-neesan also told Katsuko-nee that the national TV coverage may help the reputation of our bakery in the future.
That’s why she’s in such high tension, thinking that she needs a good rating, no matter what.
Tsukiko saw that.
「 In three years…Katsuko-oneesan’s the manager of our shop 」
Ai says without resting her hands.
「 You’re the manager…so you have to remain composed…or it’ll trouble us both 」
「 Ai-chan… 」
I…
「 Katsuko, it’s a normal day. Don’t worry about the reputation. Or should I say that we should focus on what we have to do since we still have a lot 」
Katsuko-nee said.
「 We’re just getting started with everything, so let’s just do what needs to be done 」
「 One step at a time 」
Ai finished the bread she was making so she’s going for the other.
「 I see. I’m sorry. I must’ve been in a bit of a high tension 」
We know.
It’s also Katsuko-nee’s first time in business.
She’s just a bit older than us, but she’s still an ordinary 21-year-old woman.
「 It’s okay, we’re no exception to this 」
She’s trustworthy, but I don’t see Katsuko-nee as an all-powerful woman who knows everything.
「 Katsuko-nee takes a deep breath. Suuu, haaa 」
「 Suuuuu, haaaaa 」
Ai and I also took a deep breath together with Katsuko-nee.
「 Thanks, I’ve calmed down 」
Katsuko-nee smiled.
「 Yeah, let’s just do whatever can right now. We’re just getting started 」
「 We can start baking on the first oven, Katsuko-nee 」
「 Yes, let’s do that 」
Katsuko-nee and I returned to our work.
Then.
「 Hey, hey, Nobu, what’s going on?! 」
Kana-senpai came over from the school cafeteria door.
The most beautiful among the second-years has a nice body, and tennis wear suits her.
「 There’s TV coverage! What’s going on?! 」
Uwawa, she’s in panic.
「 If you told me yesterday then I could’ve gone to the hair salon or something! I only brought the regular cosmetics today!! 」
Wow, she’s angry.
W-What do I do?
