Chapter 1087. Night of Retrieval / Night Tea Party

「 Yoshi-kun, I prepared tea 」

Megu brings in tea.

「 Oh? Tea? I would’ve preferred coffee 」

「 If you want coffee then make one yourself, Yukino 」

Megu glared at Yukino.

「 Here you go, everyone 」

Megu’s a little irritated as she calls Mariko and the girls.

Yukino and Ai are residents of the mansion, but.

Mariko and Kana-senpai don’t stay here.

Furthermore, this is my room, and so Megu feels that they’re invading her territory.

「 Yes, I’ll take it 」

「 Thank you, Megumi-san 」

However, Mariko and Mana take it calmly.

These two are both cheeky in their attitude.

It’s different from Yukino’s mountain climbing rope nerves.

They understand how Megu feels, but even so, they purposely get in.

And, they make sure to cooperate with everyone.

They’re not confining Yukino and Ai inside.

「 Yukino-san that one you’re looking at isn’t that bad, but you know… 」

Kana-senpai has been calling out Yukino, who’s been looking at the fashion magazines since earlier.

She’s trying to bring up a subject of interest to the other party.

「 You know…what? 」

「 Well, you’ve been talking about “I think this one is good,” since earlier but, I think that you’re getting too much into fashion 」

「 Oh, I feel that way too 」

Mariko agreed as she drinks black tea elegantly.

「 What’s wrong with being sensitive about fashion? 」

Yukino said, but…

「 I didn’t say sensitive, I just said that you’re into it too much 」

「 Right. If you ask me, you seem to be falling behind 」

「 W-What are you trying to say? 」

Yukino’s offended.

「 I mean, I think that going more casual is better in fashion. If you pick up a popular item, it’ll turn boring soon enough 」

「 Yeah. Yukino-san, you’re overthinking that you have to put on the clothes in the magazines 」

The two speak bluntly.

「 Well, I’m just a commoner so I can only think within the scope of my allowance 」

Kana-senpai said.

「 Oh? That applies to me too though 」

Mariko said. Kana-senpai.

「 Huh? I thought that you’re doing equity investment, Mariko? Your family’s rich, shouldn’t you have no problems with money? 」

「 I have an upper limit in my monthly personal use allowance. If I want to save up money for my future business, then I also have to make profits 」

「 I see. So you make decisions like that too. That’s amazing 」

「 If it was Yukino back then, she would be shopping without care, right? 」

I asked.

I saw Yukino’s room in the Shirasaka house before.

Her room’s buried in Western-style clothes and cosmetics.

Shirasaka Sousuke, and Yukino’s mother, give Yukino quite a lot of money every month.

That’s why Yukino’s a girl who’s reckless when it comes to money.

「 Now I hardly get anything. I can’t even go shopping 」

Yukino said.

「 You know. I’m the girl whose fist-time sex video is most downloaded over the world 」

After the May incident, Yukino’s a universally known person.

She also shows up on TV every week.

「 Therefore, I can only look at the fashion magazines Megumi bought! Leave me alone 」

Oh right, Yukino and Mana, they hardly go outside this mansion.

So that’s why Megu…

「 Oh? Why not go shopping online? 」

Kana-senpai asks.

「 Katsuko’s not allowing me to do that. Besides, I have no bank account right now 」

「 It’s a security problem, so we’re not letting Yukino do what she wants 」

I said.

It’s a problem if they send in some trap with the item bought online.

「 Yukino’s got a bank account you know. Her performance fee on her TV show is deposited there 」

Who knows who does that though.

After all, Yukino’s show has no sponsors.

But, Yukino, and the comedian Snatch, and the gay essayist Francie, and even the staff are paid properly.

Maybe it’s Jii-chan paying from the back, or Kyouko-san threatening the TV stations, or some voluntary pay.

That’s a mystery to me.

「 You know, it’s meaningless if I can’t use that bank account 」

Yukino said.

「 Furthermore, when it comes to cosmetics when I tell Katsuko “I want to use this, buy it,” Katsuko would say “This is better,” and she sends me a different one. She ignores my opinions! 」

「 Well, Katsuko-oneesan knows more when it comes to cosmetics so it can’t be helped 」

Megu said.

「 But I want to test it out! I want to experiment! I don’t care if the results are bad 」

Hmmm.

「 If you’re going to say that far, then I don’t mind buying it for you, but I have no extra money, so it’s a problem unless you give me money 」

Kana-senpai said.

「 Got it. I’ll tell Katsuko-nee to withdraw from Yukino’s account 」

I looked at Yukino.

「 Although, I don’t mean that Yukino can use the money on the account freely, okay? 」

「 What the hell? It’s the money I earned from my labor, right? 」

Yukino glared at me.

「 I mean, you’ll just use it all without thinking 」

「 It’s up to me how I use it right? Besides, I earn it every month so I don’t have a problem even if I use up some of them 」

That’s Yukino for you.

「 But you know, Yukino-san. Who knows until when you’ll appear on TV. Have you ever thought of saving up for the future? 」

Kana-senpai said.

「 Future? You know, my future’s already under his care 」

Yukino points at me.

「 This idiot is saving up. I’m sharing the same boat with this idiot now. If that’s the case, I would be spending all the money I have now! When the future comes, he could just deal with it 」

Err.

Well, sure, I’m going to look after Yukino…

Yeah, I guess so.

「 So far, even if I buy clothes, I can’t put it on. After all, in my show, I wear a bikini. But, since last week, I could now wear clothes when showing up on TV 」

Yukino’s stomach is going to stand out.

Therefore, Eri and Rie, and Mitama will be the girls wearing a bikini on her show from now on.

「 I’d like to pick the clothes I’m wearing on my show at least. I’ve got no other place to show off my clothing other than that 」

In school, she has to wear a uniform.

When going to the clinic for the child, she goes to a hospital affiliated with the Kouzuki SS. She does it secretly so nobody can see her.

Yukino can only enjoy fashion on TV.

「 But, Yukino, last week, the maker of the clothes you wore on your show sent a complaint, right? 」

Megu said.

「 Yeah. They did. They said that it ruins their image so they don’t want me wearing it 」

Yukino shows a depressed expression.

「 Then, on the other hand, companies nobody cares about seem to send offers so I could wear the clothes of their company. Uhm, like maternity dress companies 」

Oh right, the whole nation already knows that Yukino’s pregnant.

「 Still, the designs stink of an old lady. Seriously, the makers of clothes I want to wear refuse me, and the makers of the clothes I don’t want to wear want me to put theirs on. It’s just annoying

「 I mean, Yukino’s show got no sponsors so I think that wearing branded clothing would be bad, right? 」

Kana-senpai points out.

「 Well, yeah. It could turn into materials for bashing over the internet. Seems like that they have to declare that they didn’t pay any advertising expense if they’re going to offer me clothing. Oh man, I don’t care about that! I just want to pick my clothes and show off my fashion! 」

I see. She’s stressed out.

「 How about Yukino-san makes the design herself? Then we have companies make them for you 」

Mariko, whose aim is to open a new business, suggested.

「 If you make a breakthrough like that, then I don’t think anyone will complain 」

People who watch TV know that Yukino’s got this “My own path” personality.

If an existing clothing manufacturer sends complaints to her, then it would be a just cause for her to make her own.

「 I think that it’ll turn to a topic, and you could even sell it off 」

Mariko said, but…

「 I don’t think it will 」

Megu interrupts.

「 Yukino’s fashion sense is quite eccentric. If it was me, I would never want to copy her 」

「 Hey! What part of my fashion sense is eccentric!? 」

Yukino’s angry. Then Ai, who’s been quiet all this time;

「 It’s not eccentric…but it’s a bit weird 」

「 You just meant the same thing! 」

Err.

「 Yukino-san is an attention-seeker after all 」

「 What’s wrong with being an attention-seeker? 」

Yukino barks. Kana-senpai;

「 Oh, I get it. So that’s what Ai wants to say 」

As expected from the one who’s been with Ai the most.

「 Yukino-san’s face is already flashy enough that flashy clothing suits her. 」 But, Yukino-san’s style doesn’t isn’t accepted commonly that ordinary girls won’t look good in the clothing Yukino-san likes 」

「 Meaning, Yukino-san’s design won’t sell? 」

Mariko asks Kana-senpai.

「 Yeah. I thought that Yukino’s tastes were about the current trend, but that’s not it. It’s just that she loves the flashy appearances. It’s just that the current trendy item is combined with the flashy looks, and so it managed to feel like it’s conventional… 」

「 Oh, it’s a problem of association 」

The two understood each other but I didn’t get it.

「 So, why don’t you try out children’s design, Yukino-san? 」

Kana-senpai?

「 Yukino-san loves the flashy appearance so I think that children’s design would fit you. Recently, there are a lot of parents who let their children wear Sunday’s best flashy clothing 」

「 Oh, if you start with children’s clothing brand then it might work 」

「 Yes, everyone also knows that Yukino-san’s about to give birth to a child 」

「 I think that’s the right business 」

Kana-senpai and Mariko are getting excited.

「 Mariko, do you have some acquaintances in apparels? 」

「 Torii electronics don’t have a relationship with attire companies, but I think that we can go through Momoko-oneesama 」

Kaan Momoko-neechan?

「 Kaan group has a strong connection in that circle. Besides, if we involve Momoko-oneesama, we can accommodate various things in the future. If we can talk it smoothly, then they could invest in us 」

「 Oh, that’s good 」

「 Hey, don’t just ignore me and move forward with your conversation 」

Yukino said.

「 I just want to dress up. I don’t care about the children’s clothing 」

「 Oh? I thought that Yukino-san wanted to use money freely without Katsuko-san holding you back? 」

Kana-senpai smiles.

「 We won’t hand Yukino’s share to Katsuko-san, but instead, directly to you 」

Mariko smiled.

「 If you want, you just have to lend us your name. Shirasaka Yukino brand, but we can hire an actual designer to make it 」

「 Right. We just need Yukino-san’s flashy image and make a brand of children’s clothing 」

「 I think that’s a good idea. Yukino-san has a lot of young women as fans after her six months of telecast 」

「 Let’s survey immediately. But, I think that it has chances of success 」

「 Children’s clothing brand coming from a high school Mama is a good product 」

「 Yeah. Thinking about it, I can understand why the clothing line towards high school girls send complaints to Yukino-san 」

「 Oh, I get that. The image of a pregnant high school girl wearing their clothes ruins the clothing line their company makes 」

「 Therefore, we’re going to flip it around and turn it to “Clothing that thinks about the child since Yukino-san’s going to become a mother” 」

「 I think that’s praiseworthy 」

「 “It’s not like I wanted to become pregnant yet I am, but it’s not the sin of the child. And so, I want my child to wear cute clothes once they come to this world,” I think that kind of emotion would sell as a concept 」

Kana-senpai and Mariko are motivated.

「 W-What’s with that? 」

Yukino’s speechless.

「 I think that you should join them. It’s a get rich quick scheme 」

I said.

Currently, Yukino’s isolated even in school.

Even among the family, she’s only close to Megu, her sister from another mother, and Mana, her actual sister, then the young group.

I think that it would be good for Yukino to become close to Mariko and Kana-senpai through this children’s clothing brand case, and since they’re also of the same age.

「 You want money, right? I’ll also tell Katsuko-nee that if you earn money from Kana-senpai and Mariko’s business, then you can use it all as you wish 」

「 O-Okay 」

Yukino accepted it reluctantly.

「 But, I just wanted to dress up 」

「 Even so, if the children’s clothing goes well, we could create a new line where the concept is for young mothers to wear after giving birth to their children 」

Mariko said.

「 Yukino-san will be wearing maternity dress for a while either way 」

「 Then, after giving birth, your stomach will return to its former size, and so you have to think of dressing up fashionably together with your child. 」

「 Yes, that. Even if we begin our business now, the actual marketing would take some time before it begins. Like, it would be after Yukino-san gave birth 」

「 I don’t think there’s a demand for pregnant high school girl maternity dress 」

「 I guess we have to go with children’s clothing, then young mother’s clothing after that 」

「 We’re not going with a child high school girl. We’re going to blow away that image 」

The two speak their opinion without stopping.

「 I-I get it. I’ll let you take care of it. Just do whatever you want 」

Yukino said a little angrily.

「 Oh, right. Talking about fashion… 」

Kana-senpai looked at Megu this time.

「 Megumi, you can’t go on with that 」

「 W-What about me? 」

Megu’s surprised.

「 That’s right. Look, recently, there’s some disparity between you and Nobu 」

Disparity?

「 Look, Nobu’s getting cooler, isn’t he? Despite that, Megumi-san, who’s supposed to be Nobu’s fiance, isn’t making a step forward to suit Nobu 」

「 Are you saying that I can’t catch up? 」

「 You’re too late! That’s why you look strange. If this goes on, everyone in the school would notice it 」

Eeeh?

「 Yoshida-kuun…you’re becoming cooler 」

Ai also said.

「 Well of course. I understood it from Nobu’s actions for this day. A lot of people polish Nobu as a person 」

「 Oh, he’s never swallowed in the atmosphere even when Misuzu-sama and Ruriko-sama are present 」

Mariko said.

「 I think that he’s got some amazing courage. Last party, when the young ladies of nobility were gathering, he’s standing there, calmly, that’s something ordinary people can’t even think of. He talks to Kouzuki-sama like it’s normal to him 」

「 Well, that’s just because I’m dense 」

I don’t know that an ordinary person would get scared in that situation.

「 Wrong. If you’re dense, then your faults would be exposed to everyone right away 」

Mariko said.

「 Kou never breaks down. You carried out as a member of the Kouzuki house until the end 」

Hearing her say that makes me happy, but…

But, I…

「 Well, it’s natural that you’ll be refined like that. Kou’s surrounded by people with such great individuality 」

「 Well, I don’t get a lot of things, so I just do whatever everyone tells me. Even in my clothing and hairstyle, instead of me, I just listen to them say “try this out,” or “this is better,” and let them do what they want 」

I mean, in the mornings, lunch, and night.

They always check on me.

Even with my hairstyle, several girls always fix my hair as soon as they notice that it’s messy.

「 But, since a lot of people teach you, Nobu now says “for now, let’s do this,” you know the basics, right? 」

「 Well, yeah 」

They hardly fix it from the root, like before.

I also learn you know.

「 That’s what it means to improve. Nobu, your senses are growing. 」 If you polish matter, then it’ll become smaller, but on people, the more you polish them, the bigger they grow 」

「 Yoshida-kun’s so cool… I love it 」

Ai muttered.

「 Right. You have a good atmosphere that ordinary men don’t have 」

Mariko said.

「 Despite that, Megumi-san’s not making any progress. Do you lack in polishing? 」

Kana-senpai looked at Megu.

「 Nobu grew to have an atmosphere where it’s not weird for him to be in a party with Misuzu-san and the high-class girls, and so if Megumi-san comes with him, I think that everyone will see that you’re falling behind. Doesn’t it seem weird since you two are supposed to be engaged and living together, right? Putting aside the idea that the girl in love becomes more beautiful, the boy is just becoming cooler 」

「 Do I have that much of a problem? 」

Megu asks seriously.

「 Yes, it is a problem, I believe so. After all, I think that this isn’t Nobu’s final form. If the difference grows bigger, you’ll be left behind 」

Megu looked at me worriedly.

「 Yoshi-kun, are you leaving me? 」

I…

「 You know that this idiot can’t do anything about that, right? Megumi’s running around the school but this idiot meets up with big people in the industry, he also goes to dangerous places. The experience will inevitably create a gap 」

Yukino said.

「 Megumi may not see it but I also have changed since coming out of the TV. Snatch and Francie are top class entertainers, and after knowing that people watch me every week, I would also change 」

Yukino’s a little calmer compared to before.

「 Meeting new people, not just stupid people, but also smart people. Some of them are cunning, but if you face them with tension every time, you’ll be forced to improve yourself. I think that this idiot went through a lot more than me. Yuzuki’s quite the sadist after all 」

Yukino’s the only one who calls Minaho-neesan “Yuzuki”

Yukino first met her not as Kuromori Minaho, the leader of the Black Forest, a criminal organization, but instead;

She met her as a provisionary teacher, Yuzuki Minaho.

「 Minaho-neesan’s not a sadist. She’s just raising me through accumulated experience 」

I told Yukino.

「 Nobu’s quite endlessly deep. That’s why he’s always forced to the unreasonable. Furthermore, Nobu’s quite calm no matter what it is 」

Kana-senpai said.

「 Even in situations where you’d normally be collapsing. To think that there are so many of these girls with such individuality in here 」

「 I think so too 」

Mariko said.

「 Furthermore, Nobu’s virtue is to have everyone get along, and everyone follows it, right? I think it’s amazing to see that no girl’s trying to monopolize him and trying to eliminate the other girls 」

「 Well, it’s because they’re kind and smart girls 」

I replied.

「 Really? I think that Misuzu-sama and Ruriko-sama are quite greedy girls. It’s not too obvious for me but Kuromori Minaho-san is also one of those. Nei-san wants to monopolize you, Agnes-san too. Even Ai-san who’s over here actually wants to monopolize you 」

「 You too, Mariko 」

Kana-senpai smiles.

「 Yes, I actually want to monopolize him. But, it sinks deeply into my mind that I have to get along with the other girls 」

Mariko said.

「 You don’t want this idiot to hate you after all, right? 」

Yukino laughs.

「 You fear that this idiot would kick you out of the family out of hate because you didn’t get along with the family. That’s why 」

Well…

「 I don’t care about that. After all, I know that this idiot is head-over-heels for me! 」

Yukino.

「 Although, since a lot of girls are coming over, I know that I’m just left here. If it was Yuzuki and the initial group, then they would be taking me out. But since Misuzu and Ruriko, and more girls joined in, the initial color has weakened, and so I’m now allowed to stay here 」

The initial members of the Black Forest were the people who hated Yukino’s father.

Yukino was a target for their revenge.

Megu, Mana, and Agnes, her sisters were too, but…

In the end, Shirasaka Sousuke’s case ended and then the Kouzuki group and the Takakura sisters came over.

Then, they gave Yukino permission to live in the mansion.

「 In a sense, I’m grateful to Misuzu and Ruriko. Oh right, don’t tell them that. It’s a problem if they misunderstand that 」

Yukino said.

「 But the thing is, it’s true that this idiot is unbounded. You’re still okay even after having this many women with you, right? You idiot. You should be aware that you’re doing something absurd. You seem to be lacking in screws in the head, or should I say that the brain cells you have are dead. Even so, even if you add ten or twenty more girls, you’d have no problem, but… 」

「 Nobu’s like a home run king. When asked “Why do you hit so many home runs?” The genius replies, “I hit it because I can,” and nothing else. People see it as a great achievement that they’d ask how he could do that, but Nobu only sees it as natural

Kana-senpai looked at me.

「 Right. Kou accepts the unreasonable polygamous harem as natural. Then, Kou finds it natural, and so we all feel that this is okay. To be honest, I would find it ethically abnormal, but I just accepted it 」

「 You feel “Oh well,” right? Nobu’s going to adjust it anyway so this is okay 」

「 Every day is fun…I’m happy…Yoshida-kun…and I love everyone… 」

Ai

「 Of course. It’s fun. It’s my first time meeting Karen and yet we’re already best friends 」

「 Well yeah. Our relationship is forever since we’re both Nobu’s 」

Mariko and Kana-senpai looked at each other and smiled.

「 Yeah. Everyone’s family through Kou. You can talk about things you can’t even tell your closest friends, I mean, even topics you can’t tell your family 」

「 Isn’t that obvious? We show each other our naked bodies and even when having sex with Nobu 」

「 When everyone thinks that they’re all going to bear Kou’s children then they have to get along, I guess 」

That’s our family.

「 And that’s what I want to tell Megumi-san. You need to do something about it. If you let it be, you’ll be out of sync with Nobu 」

Kana-senpai told Megu.

「 Was it that bad? 」

「 Not too bad, but it’s close 」

Then…

「 Really? I think that it’s a little different 」

Mariko?

「 No, we’re trying to wrap our head around the situation we’re in and organize it 」

Mariko smiled and looked at Megu.

「 Does Kou currently need a girl like Megumi-san right now? 」

That’s…

「 I think so too. This idiot may look a little better now but he’s still quite the slow guy 」

Yukino smiled.

「 I think that e needs someone as slow as him, like Megumi. If it’s all the high class and proud girls like Misuzu and Ruriko, then we would be depressed. I think that this idiot needs a fussy girl like Megumi who complains about every little thing, and dominates him right? 」

「 Yukino, am I that irritating? That fussy? That I complain about every little thing? Do I dominate Yoshi-kun? 」

Megu’s hurt.

「 Oh, you’re not aware? Megumi’s an unfortunate girl, after all, ~ 」

Yukino laughed teasingly.

Megu looked at me.

「 Yoshi-kun?! Am I that unfortunate? 」

I…