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Let’s turn the clock back to spring break. Several days have passed since the surprise birthday prank and I was working my shift as usual when she arrived. I didn’t expect it at all and when I saw her, I thought it was another prank again.

“Yay~ I came for an interview~”
“Our cafe doesn’t accept interviews, so please leave at once.”
“Eh~”

We don’t actually forbid interviews. The cafe accepts interview requests after going through the owner and we answer with sincerity. However, interview requests rarely arrive to begin with. The reason for that is our customer base.

“It’s rumored that you might get erased if you write something bad about this cafe, so I’m feeling a lot of pressure, you know?”
“With our customer base, I sadly can’t refute it. So, what will be your order?”
“I’ll go for the shop’s best seller. Kotonechin’s the one I actually have business with.”
“Me?”

She’s added something weird to my name, but she always does this, so I’ll ignore it. The person who came was Ani’s friend Hibana. She’s an intelligence specialist of the rogue’s den. If I remember, she’s currently working as a journalist.

“I got commissioned by the Satsuki family to make a VTR re-enactment of the groom and bride’s first meeting up to their romantic union.”
“Are they insane?”
“I have no idea how, but apparently they saw that thing we presented at our homeroom teacher’s wedding.”

That thing we made in overstepping our boundaries as students, huh. Since Teacher Saeki knew about it, I expected the information regarding it to be shared. But to think that they even have the video. I didn’t anticipate that happening, but I suppose it’s easy to find with the twelve family’s influence.

“For the production, I recruited the help of our specialists among the rogue’s den. However, I’m having trouble with the cast selection. As you’d expect, it’s hard to secure some time in their schedules.”
“Everyone is busy with their own work. I’m sure it wouldn’t be a smart choice to just cancel their existing plans for this.”

You can’t ignore existing commitments just because there was a commission from the twelve families, it’ll affect your credibility. Without adjustments, it’s hard to gather the people. Also, the urgency of the commission doesn’t help either.

“I was put in charge of gathering information for the script. If it was Ruru, she might just pick out scandals.”
“A fair choice. Here is your order. Now please enjoy yourself.”
“I told you, Kotonechin is the one I have business with.”

Tch, I couldn’t escape. Besides, all I know about their romance is the start and the end. I have no idea about the happenings in the middle, you know? But I do have a hunch that they just did nothing but drink the whole time.

“If it’s after I’m done with work.”
“Making proper appointments is important, huh. Here, my business card. Contact me after your shift is done, okay? I won’t forgive you if you ghost me.”
“Like I’d ever do something so terrifying.”

There’s no telling what would happen when you break a promise. Several of the rogue’s den already know my address, so who knows if when they’d just come barging in. Even Ani thought they might come without any notice.

“Ah, I see now. With food tasting this good, it makes sense they’d be regulars. I might get hated if the place gets more traffic.”
“You write food reviews?”
“I generally eat anything. I write about anything I have interest in. Still, this will probably be my last work as a journalist.”
“Changing jobs?”
“Yep. I just got to chase my dream, you know? So I’m striving to be a photographer.”

Hibana may be the intelligence specialist, but that’s due to her having taken various pictures of various events. She loved photography from the start, so even Ani and the others were surprised when being a photographer wasn’t her first choice.

“And if my first job is the Satsuki family’s wedding ceremony, then wouldn’t that be a good omen for the future? I honestly think this could be my turning point.”
“Information gathering for the script then camera work on the day, huh. Sounds like rough work.”
“It’s not rough work to do something you love.”

True, I understand that. You can persevere when you’re doing something you love. However, the opposite is also true. When you start to no longer enjoy doing what you love, you need to have a change of pace. And sometimes, that leads you to random places.

And so, after relaxing for a while, Hibana left. She’s a neutral among the rogue’s den, so she’s fortunately easy to converse with. If it was anyone else, they would have forced the conversation to go their way, which would have devolved into a fight.

✦✧✦✧✦

“I’m done with work, so I guess I’ll contact her now.”
‘You done?’
“Exactly, so it’s time to meet up. I’ll be right in front of the cafe.”
‘Roger that.’

That’s the first place that came to mind when thinking about a place both of us know. If Hibana isn’t too far away, then she should be here in a short while. Even if she is, I can pass time chatting with Kaori.

“Sorry for the wait~”
“I didn’t think you’d be here in seconds.”
“Efficiency-wise, just waiting outside is the best option, you see.”

Sure, that might be true, but what did you even do to pass time until now? She’s a working adult, so maybe she completed the remaining workload she had. Well, there are things better left unknown.

“Should we go into a shop somewhere?”
“No, let’s just buy dinner and talk at my place. I want to hear about Niiki and the saintess’ recent developments too.”
“Oh, me as your third guest? What an honor. That aside, those two have been sickeningly sweet lately. I even feel like I’d get a heartburn talking about it.”

Niiki and the saintess aren’t a part of the rogue’s den. They weren’t part of the class, but they were closer to the rogue’s den than most people were. After all, Niiki is Hibana’s actual older brother. And it was easy to get along with them.

“I really can’t imagine those two getting into a fight.”
“You of all people should know how hard it was to get them hitched.”
“I mean, I was there.”

Ani was a part of that plan, so I know he did a lot. His actions caused a disaster, though. But it’s also thanks to that disaster that those two got closer. You never do know what could happen.

“And who could have expected the saintess to be the ultimate anti-Souji weapon.”
“There was no winning that one.”

The saintess didn’t really have anything special in particular. She genuinely was just an ordinary girl. Despite that, she stood strong before the enraged Ani and didn’t retreat; it’s honestly praiseworthy. Faced with her courage and sincerity, even Ani couldn’t win.

“Well, now that we’ve reached my room, what do you want to ask?”
“While I did come for that, our strategist also entrusted me a favor, you see.”
“Satoru is attending too? So, what is it?”
“We’re going to have you as our banner.”
“Ha?”

The fact that I couldn’t understand her words is proof that I am not Ani. If it was Ani, he would have immediately understood the situation and thought of some counter-plan. However, I wasn’t able to anticipate the upcoming chain of events.

“Kotonechin, you’re attending the Satsuki wedding ceremony too, right?”
“I did receive an invitation and I was commissioned to appear as well.”
“As Unknown, right? Okay, info confirmed.”

Hibana took out her smartphone. What I can see from here is information about me performing somewhere being leaked. And I can easily imagine where it’s going to be sent. Still, why leak it to the rogue’s den?

“A performance with Kotonechin. No one’s going to miss this opportunity.”
“You plan to use me as bait to have the other rogue’s den members join? I don’t think that’d have much of an effect.”
“No no, it’s extremely effective, actually. Especially for the one I’m fishing for.”

Since this will impact her own future, Hibana isn’t going to be picky with her methods. Still, someone who I would serve as effective bait to… I think of the possible candidates and narrow down on a certain individual. Someone who, due to her tight schedule, is hard to get a hold of.

“Okay! Got’em!”
“Ayaka’s joining, huh. Ran’s going to be in tears.”

Think about the one who’s going to have to adjust her schedule. Still, Ayaka, huh. If she sees me now, will she still treat me the same way? Being in love with Ani, I’m sure she can notice even the slightest differences.

“No, if she starts treating me differently, that might be great.”

If Ayaka’s extreme skinship goes away, I’d honestly appreciate it. Even if I see myself as a female now, that kind of interaction still makes me feel embarrassed. Please at least return to being just a friend.

“Alright, now join the group chat so you can keep in touch with everyone, okay?”
“Eh? You want me thrown to the sharks?”
“Some of them are still in doubt, you see? So we’ll have to show evidence.”
“No, I’m not commanding to begin with, so there’s no need for me to have an open line with everyone, is there?”
“Tch, you noticed.”

She nonchalantly tried to have me take charge. Still, even I can anticipate that much. The one thing I must absolutely avoid is to swim with the sharks. The prospects of having more association with the rogue’s den fools is already making me dizzy.

“You leave me no choice. I honestly didn’t want to do this.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Yep. If you don’t join the group chat, I’ll reveal to Ayaka the address to this place.”
“Alright, tell me the password.”
“You’re quick to surrender.”

I already know that doing so would absolutely destroy my peace. Them noticing my change isn’t a problem. At worst, they might decide to mess with me until I become identical to Ani, and that terrifies me. And so, I joined the group chat.

‘Kisaragi Kotone. Joining the fray.’

Umm, why is there a never ending stream of characters? I can’t even read the messages sent. Next to me, Hibana is slapping the table while roaring with laughter. By the way, 70% of them said that they’d join and I ended up having to take charge of them.

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