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“I’m glad we did that. They would have definitely caused trouble regarding Kotone’s appearance.”
“They would have definitely come here. I’d kick them out, though.”
“Please stop it. It would be bad for my stomach.”

A double knockout, huh. Personally, I welcome it. That resolves all annoying troubles. I don’t have free time myself. I’m busy with the final adjustments and preparations of my plan. It’s all my fault that this even became a problem, though.

“In any case, shall we end the discussion here?”
“I have a lot more to do now, but it can’t be helped. I’ll have to reconsider our album bonus and the like.”
“What did you plan to add as a bonus?”
“The collab performance.”

Isn’t this the first thing you should have asked me about? Maybe we already had a conversation about it, but I can’t remember. With the lack of sleep and the theme park issue, maybe I was too worked up to remember. To begin with, if you sell that, wouldn’t my face be completely revealed? I absolutely refuse.

“Anne. Do you have no plan of collab-ing with me?”
“None at all. Is there even any reason to do so?”
“At this rate, your popularity will wane with time and that would be such a waste. Think of it as something to bridge the gap until you officially debut.”
“Once again, please negotiate with me for that. Kotone’s matters are officially under my supervision, after all.”

Actually, does Yui intend on managing both me and the idiots? No, that’s not it. She might be planning on using this opportunity to separate herself from the fools. If it’s me, it should be easier to manage than those fools. At least that’s what she thinks. According to our acquaintances though, I’m apparently worse.

“For my future’s sake, I’m absolutely not letting you go.”
“Who are you planning to sacrifice for that?”
“That, I’ll leave to the agency. I’m not letting anyone else be your manager.”

I feel like I’ve seen this happen before, with the bodyguards. Akira and Kyosuke, who are surely eavesdropping right now, likely recall what I’m recalling as well. And they must be eager to tell Yui that she’s wrong. That she’ll have a rougher time when things get crazy.

“What a scene.”
“Shirose. Just arrived?”
“I’m sleepy, but I’m here. I promised, after all.”

How admirable. Also, you came at the worst possible timing. Why did you arrive while these three are here? And why the hell did you bring someone who will only complicate things? She’s precisely the one person I want here the least right now.

“It’s been a long time as well, Ms. Sayoko. This is my mother.”

If I don’t take preemptive action, there’s no telling what my step-mom might say. After I called her by name, she was confused for a moment but quickly took the hint when I introduced my mother. She seems a bit sulky, she probably didn’t like the way I called her. I’m begging you, bear with it.

“Kotone. This person is?”
“She’s the mother of Souji Okita, who took care of me when I ran from home in the past. She still cares for me occasionally.”
“Thank you for looking after my daughter.”
“No, please don’t mind it.”

Is it only me who wants to leave this place as soon as possible? For some reason, I’m seeing invisible sparks flying between my two mothers. It’s definitely just my imagination, but then why is the air so heavy now? I don’t want to think about it.

“Well then, I should be home soon. Later, Anne.”
“I also need to verify some things with them.”

I glared at the two as they swiftly ran away. I get that they felt the unrest and left, but that just worsened the situation. Why are things deteriorating just when I thought a problem was resolved? Today really is my unluckiest day.

“Kotone, nice chaos.”
“Don’t just enjoy this situation. Why did you come with her?”
“I just bumped into her; we were both heading for the cafe.”

It was a complete coincidence. Still, it’s terribly timed. In the first place, why did my step-mom come here today? I could have sworn she previously said that she can’t visit frequently due to her work. Moreover, there was the news this morning. I wouldn’t be surprised if she came here with a concrete goal.

“Now then, I need to be back at work soon.”
“Mn.”

At least say an actual word. Just as I was about to leave my seat, my step-mom stretched her hand out as if demanding something from me. As for what it is, we’ve lived together for a long time so I can tell. Still, I don’t really feel comfortable handing it over.

“No, it’s really embarrassing for me…”
“Mn.”
“That’s why, umm…”
“Mn.”
“Alright. I’ll send the data later.”

I lost to their pressure. She’s barely muttering a syllable and yet I can’t win against that stare. It’s been like this since the past, but my step-mom and master are pretty much the rogues’ den’s nemesis. Our unbeatable nemesis. Just their presence can make us want to run away.

“Shirose, I don’t know what you’re recalling, but stop shivering.”
“Don’t worry, it’s just battle trembles.”
“Against what?”

Naturally, even Shirose has previously experienced getting scolded by my step-mom. Isami and I have been scolded so much that we’ve gotten a bit used to it, but the rogues’ den in general respond to her like this. A bit too similar to PTSD. When it comes to my master, they just run the moment she enters their line of sight.

“Well then, I really need to go back to work now.”
“Kotone. Wait. Why did you just obediently give her that thing she asked for?”

It’s as if emotion just fell off my mother’s face. Did I do something to offend her? Also, I can’t help but feel that these two mix as well as oil and water. I guess I have to do my best to keep them from being together in the future.

“I’ve mentioned that I’ve been in her care, right?”
“Yes, I already heard that. But I wonder why. You seem extremely intimate with her.”
“She has even slept over at my home, you see.”
“Ms. Sayoko, please don’t say anything unnecessary.”

For some reason, it seems like my step-mom’s mood is growing worse by the minute. It’s definitely not my imagination that Shirose’s battle trembles are growing worse as well. How did she even accompany my step-mom here? Was her sense of danger dulled by the lack of sleep?

“Kotone. What is the meaning of this?”
“Tell her, Koto-chan.”

Someone, please help me. In the end, there was no work done for the rest of the day.