In the end, Rei-chan doesn’t understand what she feels that well.
She learned kendo from her Grandfather and during her school days, she left results of her excellence in it.
She’s tall, strong, and her appearance looks cool.
The people around Rei-chan looks at her with an impression of a “cool swordsman.”
And because Rei-chan’s an honest girl, she tries to become the person the surroundings perceive her.
But, by doing that, the psychological stress gathers up inside Rei-chan.
Chief Yazawa scouted her and made her a bodyguard, out of the way of her Kendo arts.
Furthermore, she didn’t team up with anyone, and she became a lone-wolf.
The pressure in Rei-chan’s mind burst in a strange direction that she formed the character of “beat to death swordswoman.”
「 Rei-chan what you’ll do from now on is a play 」
I say as I look at Rei-chan’s eyes.
「 Rei-chan, you’ll play the role of the “fighting security director” The audience will be the police and Kouzuki security service, and of course, the customers, Rei-chan will all those kinds of people from now on 」
Rei-chan stares at me.
「 Rei-chan, you need those people to trust you 」
「 Trust? 」
「 Yes, that’s the kind of play you’re doing 」
I must prevent Rei-chan’s consciousness to face inwards.
She’ll become even more alone if she does.
Outside of her consciousness.
「 Everyone needs to feel relieved when they see how Rei-chan behaves. Make sure that everyone thinks “This person is protecting my family and me,” and have them smile 」
That’s right.
「 Therefore, the image of “hero commander,” which Rei-chan said earlier is correct. You must relieve everyone and make them smile. You can’t be scary 」
「 That’s right. Look cool, smile. Rei-chan. Do it like Rhett Butler 」
Mana said.
「 What’s that? 」
「 Huh, Onii-chan doesn’t know Rhett Butler? 」
If it’s Red King, then I know. 1
「 It’s the second man role in Tarazuka 」
Oh, I see.
「 Will I be able to do it? 」
Rei-chan still worries.
「 It’s okay. You can do it, we know 」
I said with a smile.
「 Rei-chan, we all know that Rei-chan is acting. After all, we know the real Rei-chan 」
Easy to get depressed, takes time in worrying, she’s a troublesome Onee-san
「 Therefore, Rei-chan can stay as the original Rei-chan only with the family. You can be the “fighting security director” outside Rei-chan has a place to come back to 」
「 That’s right. Everyone’s doing the same, right? Misuzu-oneechan and Ruri-oneechan also show a different face outside and another when they’re with Onii-chan. They can be their true selves when they’re with Onii-chan. Oh, recently Michi-oneechan’s lovestruck actions are the most amazing! 」
Mana laughs.
Edie nods too; she somehow understood it because Michi’s name was mentioned.
「 Also, if Rei-chan worries or don’t understand something then we’ll think together., Let’s think of it for hours. Again and again. There’s no need to hold back. We’re a family. Therefore, be careful outside, become a strong and cool Onee-chan for us 」
Rei-chan.
「 Un, thanks 」
Then, she looked up at the sky.
「 Okay! 」
Rei-chan shouts.
「 I’ll do my best! 」
Rei-chan reveals her determination while looking at the blue sky.
「 Yeah, go for it 」
Mana, Edie, and I smile gently and hug Rei-chan.
「 Un, I’ll do my best!! 」
◇ ◇ ◇
When we arrived at the main gate of the mansion.
The huge iron gate opens up rattling.
Katsuko-nee must be remotely operating it from the mansion. There’s a camera in here.
Going out of the mansion:
As usual, the police and Kouzuki security service observers are lined up.
「 Thanks for the hard work 」
I greeted them in a loud voice.
Mana and Edie imitate me and bow their heads.
Both groups of observers were feeling tensed from the sudden opening of the gate.
The first to move was Kouzuki security service.
「 Where are you going? 」
A middle-aged man in a black suit wearing black sunglasses comes off the car.
I was about to say “to school” honestly but,
Rei-chan stops me.
「 You have no obligation to answer 」
She tells me.
「 Thanks for the hard work, I’m in charge of them. Please continue to watch over the mansion for now 」
She tells the man in a black suit from Kouzuki security service.
「 Fujimiya-san, we would like you to be open with information a bit more 」
Oh.
Last night, Rei-chan caused trouble with another security officer.
Even among top elites, Rei-chan is not like Shou-oneechan, she’s unpopular among the people in the scene.
She hasn’t worked with people on the field because she has the bad reputation as the “beat to death swordswoman” preceding her.
「 Seki-san and you enter the mansion, but we’ve been outside with our cars all the time. Furthermore, we never hear anything about the schedule of the people inside. This is affecting the morale of the people here 」
The man wearing sunglasses complains.
「 We’re wondering if you could do something about it 」
Right, these people were in charge of 24-hour security outside the mansion, but…
They’re not told anything about our schedule.
Every time a car comes out of the mansion, they’d follow in a hurry.
They don’t know when we would move so they can’t feel relaxed.
「 What’s your name? 」
Rei-chan looks at the man in the black suit.
「 Do you not know my name? I’m Sugino from the security department’s 6th division, squad 14 black group 」
The man replied
Oh, he’s a man from the security department.
「 Sorry that I didn’t know 」
「 Oh please, you’ll be a member of the security department, right? 」
There are already rumors leaking out that Rei-chan will become the head of the department.
「 You’ll probably be also just a decoration just like the temporary director just now. I can’t feel at ease unless you do well 」
The man sighs.
「 You’re demoted from the top elites, it feels pitiful to see you look like a hero on the rooftop of a department store. Please think of our hardships in the field. Could you take a bit of consideration and make the work more comfortable for us? 」
The man in the black suit thinks that Rei-chan’s demoted from top elite to the director of the department.
「 Well, it’s just useless to complain to a decoration like you. I’ll tell Seki-san directly when she arrives. She should be coming soon 」
Rei-chan doesn’t respond.
「 That’s enough. You do your job, you were a top elite so it must be hard for you to return to the uniform group as a babysitter now 」
At the moment he looked at Mana, Edie and me, and said that.
「 You insolent man!!! 」
Rei-chan stabs her beat-to-death stick on the guard rail in front of her.
Bekiiii!!
The guardrail dents so hard.
「 You’re impolite to young master! 」
Huh, Rei-chan!
「 F-Fujimiya-san, what do you mean?! 」
「 First, that sunglasses is disrespectful!! 」
She breaks the man’s sunglasses with the tip of the cane!
「 Bitch! 」
「 Don’t move, your forehead will be the next if you do!!! 」
The man in the black suit stops moving from Rei-chan’s scream.
If she bashes him with her cane, his skull will be crushed.
「 Everyone in the 14th squad, get off!! 」
Rei-ichan’s sharp voice orders the observers who were staying in the car.
「 Hurry up! 」
「 Hey, get out. Fujimiya seems to want to tell us something 」
Hearing their leader’s words, the observers get off the car in succession.
Rei-chan puts down the stick she was pointing to the man in the black suit.
「 What is your job? 」
She glares at the observers.
「 It’s to monitor 24/7. However, it’s split to three groups with an 8-hour shift 」
The man in the black suit replied.
「 It seems that former-director Yamaoka’s training was harsh. I can feel the atmosphere here is loose 」
Rei-chan speaks hatefully.
「 You guys seem not to know who we are guarding in this mansion 」
「 We know, it’s Misuzu-sama and Ruriko-sama 」
Rei-chan glares at the man in black suit.
「 At this moment, I am relieving you from your duty as the squad leader. If you make another failure, you’re dismissed, remember that 」
「 Hey hey, you don’t have that authority, right? 」
The man in the black suit is enraged, but Rei-chan ignores that man.
「 is there anyone who can explain to this man, Sugino, was it? What failures had he done? 」
She asks the other observers.
「 Err 」
「 Speak your name1 」
「 Sinohara from Squad 14. Is it about criticizing the higher-ups? 」
「 That’s not the problem, if you want to give us a piece of advice then we’d listen to it no matter how useless it is. Is there anyone who has an idea? 」
「 Yes 」
「 Your name? 」
「 Sakai from 14th Squad, just now, squad leader Sugino… 」
「 Former squad leader Sugino 」
Rei-chan speaks sharply.
「 Former squad leader Sugino makes fun of Fujimiya-san’s new uniform 」
「 You’re the idiot here. I don’t have time to mind all of those things, next? 」
「 Kondo from the 14th squad, could it be about the “Seki-san will arrive soon”? 」
「 That’s right, it was leakage of confidential information 」
Rei-chan said.
「 That’s not a big deal, is it? 」
「 That’s not for you to make the conclusion! Don’t speak of the schedule of the higher-ups of Kouzuki security so lightly! 」
「 But 」
「 The police is listening, you know? 」
Rei-chan looks at the cars of the public police who’s watching the situation.
「 Does anyone know what other failures this man did? 」
The man named Kondo raised his hand again.
「 Uhm, is it about mentioning the name of Misuzu-sama and Ruriko-sama? 」
「 That’s right 」
「 Wait a second! Don’t both sides know that the two are in the mansion right now?! 」
Sugino still hangs on Rei-chan.
「 So what? Didn’t what you said just reconfirmed that the two are in there? Do you know how idiotic that is? 」
Rei-chan speaks coldly.
「 That’s the problem that governs the quality of the VIP bodyguards 」
Even if you know they’re present, you have to pay close attention so it won’t be confirmed.
「 By the way, this man earlier said that he will “ask Seki-san to share the schedule of the people inside to the surveillance team,” is there anyone in consensus with this guy? 」
Rei-chan asks.
「 No, uhm, I don’t 」
「 Ah, me too 」
Three young guards raise their hands.
「 Hey you bastards! 」
Sugino intimidates them, but since he’s already relieved from his job as the squad leader, so the three didn’t lower their hands.
「 Why do you think so? 」
Rei-chan asks.
「 Ah, Mori from the 14th squad, no, I feel sorry for an underling to say this but.. 」
「 I’m not asking that, anyone else? 」
「 Uhm 」
Kondo raised his hand again.
「 The ladies of Kouzuki house are inside so the schedule shouldn’t be determined in the first place? 」
「 That’s right, our job is to be a bodyguard. So you guys want to decide on the schedule in advance to make your work easier? 」
Rei-chan’s words are harsh.
「 No, but usually the bodyguards get the schedule in advance! 」
Sugino still refuses to back down.
「 That’s because you happened to be a bodyguard of a company director, right? Customers in high society move on a finely minute schedule from the start. That’s all. The wives and the young ladies don’t live that kind of life, in the first place, they don’t have a work schedule! 」
Rei-chan’s words overwhelm the observers.
「 I’ve been carrying out bodyguard duties for that kind of people as a top elite so many times 」
Oh, Rei-chan doesn’t team up with other guards, so she specialized on protecting the wives and children of the VIPs
「 Don’t judge by your experience alone, in the first place, both of them are from Kouzuki house. Can you say the same to “Kakka”? 」
Submit the schedule in advance and act precisely as written. Irregularities aren’t allowed. Nobody could tell Jii-chan that.
「 That’s right, if it was Kakka then he always has a sudden unscheduled appointment 」
Suddenly, Shou-oneechan’s voice comes in.
When I turn around, she’s in there.
「 S-Seki-san? 」
The observing staff of Kouzuki security service trembles.
「 Oh, I’m also one of the top elites you know? I can do something this much 」
She said and laughed.
「 That’s right, you people aren’t usually guarding subjects of this level. Chief Yazawa thought it would improve your experience so he made this kind of arrangement but it seems that there are a lot of problems 」
Shou-neechan is one of the three of Jii-chan’s personal bodyguards. She’s in the highest position among the top elites.
「 Now then, Kondo-kun, Sugino-san has another failure, do you know what it is 」
Shou-neechan asks Kondo.
「 Uhm, could it be that he was rude to these people? 」
Kondo looked at Mana and me.
「 Seeing how Fujimiya-san came to escort these people personally 」
「 That’s for the security of course. It’s crucial 」
「 That’s right, Fujimiya-san, she said “young master” 」
Shou-neechan said and looked at Sugino.
「 Sugino-san, this won’t end with just a disciplinary punishment. You’re dismissed. This is a disciplinary discharge 」
Huh?
「 Our company’s bodyguards never babysit. Also, just as Reika said, the sunglasses is impolite, flaring up in front of the customers too. Furthermore, the police are watching, you embarrass us 」
Shou-neechan’s smile is scary.
「 Besides, this young master here is one of the people you must never be impolite at 」
「 No, I’m not that special 」
I don’t mind being made a fool of.
After all, I’m wearing a school uniform.
I don’t look like a VIP to anyone.
I think that it’s just inevitable for him to say, babysitter.
「 Young master seems not to mind but, it’s a big problem for those working for young master to be rude to him. If Kakka hears this matter, he’ll be furious 」
Err, I.
Just what kind of a big deal am I?
「 I’ll let you off with a disciplinary dismissal for this time so be grateful 」
Shou-neechan tells Sugino.
「 Reika, who do you think among these 6 is a good leader for the 14th squad? 」
「 I think Kondo-san’s good 」
Rei-chan replied.
「 I think so too. Kondo-kun, you’re now the new leader of the squad 」
「 Ah, yes 」
「 I left my car on the curve on the other side of the road, someone, drive it here 」
Shou-neechan hands the keys to the car to Kondo.
She stopped the car there, erased her presence and came to look at our situation.
「 Understood, Mori, take care of it. Don’t get it to any accident 」
「 Roger 」
「 14th squad, continue your monitoring 」
Shou-neechan instructs, the observers run back to their cars.
They move fast. That was good.
「 As expected of Shou-oneesama 」
Rei-chan’s’ impressed.
「 Reika also did well, you must come up with your own methods. There’s no need to imitate me 」
「 Yes 」
Then, Shou-neechan looks at Sugino who’s still stunned.
「 Oh, are you still here? You’re an eyesore so disappear 」
「 Disappear 」
The two women speak in contempt. Sugino;
「 I-I’ll bring this case to chief Yazawa. This is unfair dismissal 」
「 Do as you want 」
Shou-neechan smiles.
《 Hey！ 》
Edie smiled at Sugino and points at the sunglasses that fell on the road.
「 O-Oh 」
Sugino picks up the sunglasses and runs in small steps.
「 Dammit!! 」
He runs at full speed feeling frustrated and hateful.
「 That’s not the way tot he station though 」
I muttered.
「 Leave him alone, it’s no use to bring the map of this neighborhood in mind for this job. Yamaoka-san often raise the status of those kinds of people! 」
Shou-neechan sighs.
「 By the way, why is Shou-neechan… 」
I try to talk to Shou-neechan but…
「 Wait 」
She stopped me.
Then, she looked at the police vehicle.
「 The police is listening to our conversation with a sound concentrating microphone so if you have any questions, ask me directly. Of course, there are things we can, and we can’t talk about 」
Shou-neechan said.
Suddenly, the door of the police car opens.
A white haired man wearing a suit comes down.
◇ ◇ ◇
「 Kondo-kun, don’t come over here, you guys may have sound concentrating microphones but don’t listen. This is a confidential matter 」
Shou-neechan tells the observers from Kouzuki security service loudly.
「 I think that the police is recording our conversation 」
Before long, the white haired police office comes in front of us.
「 Thanks for the effort. No need to state your name or position, I know it 」
Shou-neechan says with a smile.
「 I also know who you are but isn’t it dull to not say hello? Well, I’ll say at least my name. I’m Hayama 」
「 Seki 」
「 Fujimiya 」
The two ladies return the favor.
「 Oh, how about you kids tell us your names too? 」
The police tell me with a smile.
「 I 」
「 No, Onii-chan 」
Mana stops me.
「 That”s his trick 」
Ah.
「 Nono, this is a greeting. We also know who you are. Shirasaka Maika-san 」
Hayama laughs.
「 But, you don’t know who this girl is, do you? 」
Shou-neechan points at Edie with a smile.
「 That’s right, that’s a problem. After all, there’s no record of a foreigner like her that entered the country 」
Edie came to Japan with Miss Cordelia.
「 We’re making the documents presently so you’ll know her later 」
Shou-neechan says calmly.
「 That saves us a lot 」
Hayama also doesn’t break his smile.
「 But, I’m a police officer, no you see, I won’t complain if she has all the papers. But it’s also our job why such records were made 」
「 I see, that’s a lot of work, do your best 」
「 Oh well, It’s my job, so I have to 」
The two continues their smiling exchange.
「 Then, about you, Yoshida-kun. I don’t know much about you either 」
Hayama smiles at me.
「 What are you? What is your relationship to Kuromori and Kouzuki house? I’d like to listen to your story by all means 」
「 Oh, don’t say that you plan on taking him, do you? 」
Shou-neechan smiles.
「 I’d like him to accompany us voluntarily but, I can take him forcibly as well. I can make as many reasons just like I can to you all 」
This guy.
「 Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a cutter with him 」
Shou-neechan said.
「 Oh my, “He”? Didn’t you call him “young master” earlier? 」
Hayama is laughing, but his eyes look like of a snake.
He’s aiming for me.
- KING CRIMSON! ↩