YOUR ORDERS
Chapter 10: A New Card in the Pack

PV: KITSUNE

We finally finished the designs of our suits, we just have to make them. I thought the thematic bar could be a salvation to the inn, because it'd attract the attention from all the periphery. After all, who doesn't like to go into a place full of beautiful people, a nice environment and relish all the good and fine things? Speaking about that, I called Haruka-san and said: "Haruka-san, I think we need to talk…".

"And what would that be about?", Haruka asked me.

"It's about what we're gonna sell in the bar. Obviously, if we wanna attract a high level public, we need to offer foods and liquors with high quality, they must be very exquisite", I explained.

"Oh, I see, your preoccupation is pertinent. I don't know yet what I can do, but I think we can contour such situation in a satisfactory way…", Haruka said.

"Well, and how can we do that? I know some liquor sellers, from my experiences as freelancer and divulgation promoter. Maybe they can help us to begin this agreement, but…", I explained to her. Well, I really knew owners from big foods sellers, but I didn't know how I can persuade them to guide a new journey from a bunch of green girls into the entertainment branch. Haruka noted my anxiety and put her hand over my shoulder, smiling lightly.

"Don't you worry, everything has an own time to happen. We are pretty and intelligent, isn't it true? We have to use these attributes to help us. Listen, I also know some sellers… How about making a list of enterprises that can help us to begin our own business? Most of them are men, so we just have to use some of our seductiveness and we can obtain something satisfactory to our place, what do you think?", Haruka commented. She knows as much as I do the tricks used in the business world. After all, how many times did I skin Keitaro using some feminine charm? The personnel works at business world isn't different, you just launch some string and you are able to catch them with a hook.

"Great, Haruka-san! So that's the point, let's use this week to make the arrangements. Obviously, I think just two of us can do this job, because the other ones are busy with classes, and the poor Shinobu have to make our feeding and elaborate our suits", I said. Man, I saw I had so many works to do, and I never was a fan of hard work, but I realize how Keitaro and Shinobu unfold themselves into dual jorneys of work and studying, I felt myself motivated to organize our thematic bar.

Speaking about the devil, look who's coming…

PV: KEITARO

Wow, what a delightful afternoon! Since the moment I stayed myself away a little from girls's influence, I could realize how is good to stay an afternoon with people from daily acquaintanceship, people who has something in common with me. Of course I'm talking about my classmates. Obviously, the Archaeology school isn't among the most wished schools of Toudai – actually, there are unoccupied vacancies – but the most important thing is that the people who are studying this school really enjoy Archeology. It should be saddening to do something just because it's an easy way to get money or because it's very difficult to enter in the preferred school (and so you must study another school just because "you need to have a bachelor degree").

I used the Sunday to know Tokyo squares and parks with my classmates. How all my classmates were paupers like me, we decided to do anything that didn't involve spending money, or amusements with low costs. The only thing that really cost us a high price was a tour at Tokyo Tower, but I didn't regret; it was a very nice visiting – because I could have a great sight from the city looking from the top. I really paid attention to a colleague of mine, called Mizuho Fujisawa, who seemed to be not enjoying our fun a lot.

When the gang dissipated, I offered myself to bring her home. She tried to foil me using many different ways, until the moment when I got somewhat upset and pushed her to the limits: "I'm sorry if I'm such a meddler, but I'd really like to know why you don't want to have my company… You don't have to lie to me, I just wanna help you…".

And she gave me an answer, maybe something I didn't really need to hear. She just looked at me and said, with eyes somewhat tearful: "It's the fact I divided the apartment I rent with two other girls, but they got degrees and I'm alone… I'll have to leave, because I don't have the means to rent it alone… And I don't know where I can go… Are you satisfied now?".

I got quite touched, because I felt I was meddling in subjects that were none of my business. She was sobbing due to the abundant crying, so I touched her on the shoulder and said: "I beg you for excuse again, I made you upset… Let me help you, please, maybe it's the only way to repair what I have done…".

"I must beg you for excuses, you just were trying to help me, and I scolded you because I didn't want nobody meddling in my business… But I see you are worried about me, and I thank you for your attention", Mizuho unburdened, giving a shy smile. That thing made me calm down, because I was in panic. I went too far from the limits, so I needed to help her to get out from that situation.

"Don't you make ads in Toudai? Maybe there's someone who wants to rent a place with you…", I proposed her.

"There's no time for it, I need to hand over the place tomorrow, and I'd already tried to use this kind of resource, but it didn't work out. Nobody looked for me, and now I must leave the place without any idea where I can go", Mizuho explained.

"Ah, how much do you spend monthly, if you allow me to make this question...", I inquired her.

"Well, I spend 20000 yen with rent and condominium taxes, and this was the value spent for any girl, of course… It was an apartment with two bedrooms, and I divided one of them with one of the girls. Adding food, transport and basic counts, I think the value is about 50000 yen per month. I'm from a family with low resources, Keitaro-san. I don't know what to do", Mizuho told me.

"Wait a moment, Fujisawa-san, but what do you think about spending the same 20000 yenes per month, including an individual bedroom, four daily meals very well done, fifteen minutes of phone per day, plus water and light costs?", I asked her. She looked at me with a little of discredit.

"I don't believe there's a place with so many services costing only 20000 yenes per month. Where's this place?", Mizuho asked me, showing happiness in her face.

"It's the inn run by me and my sister, the Hinata-sou. There are some empty rooms, I can put you over there. What do you think? I'll speak with my aunt and we'll set the furnishings changed tomorrow", I said to her. Man, it's difficult to see a smile like that.

"Thank you, Kei-kun...", Mizuho said, hugging me softly. But there's something strange… Kei-kun? Since when does she call me like that? I've never been so close to my classmates.

"Kei... kun?', I asked, somewhat disturbed. She noted my aspect of doubt and undid the hug, staying in a position of retraction.

"Thousands of apologies, Keitaro-san... I don't know why I said 'Kei-kun'… But it's funny, it's just as if I already knew you before in some place… You said 'Hinata-sou', didn't you?", Mizuho inquired of me, with curiosity in her aspect.

"Yes, I Said 'Hinata-sou'… It's a property from my family, the Urashima family… Does this name sound familiar to you?", I said, a kind of curious.

"It did so, I'll try to recall from where I know the name Hinata-sou…", Mizuho said, smiling, "Well, Keitaro-san, I think you can join me now to go to my apartment".

"That's nice, but if you want, you can call me Kei-kun... I don't care…", I affirmed her, giving a smile back. Thinking about what she spoke, she isn't so strange to me… From where did I know Mizuho? For a moment, I felt myself so nostalgic…

The building where she lives stays very near to Toudai, but the place isn't magnificent at all. Contrariwise, it seems to be a popular dwelling center, with several blocks containing two floors each one. She invited me to know the place, but I had to refuse; I alleged it was too late and I needed to go back home, or my aunt would start to think silly things. Indeed, I felt myself somewhat intimidated, I thought I've done enough for her, I didn't want to bother her even more today.

"So, that's right, Fujisawa-san. Tomorrow you can make the change to the Hinata-sou, right?", I said to her, with a kind of apprehension.

"That's fine, Kei-kun... You can call me Mizuho, ok? And you don't need to be apprehensive, I did already tell you it's everything fine, I thank you the attention", she responded me, finishing the sentence with a sweet kiss in my face. I confess I always get ashamed at these moments. She laughed softly, hiding the smile with her hand.

After we waved goodbye to each other, I managed to go back home. After all, Haruka-san could be really worried about me. During the journey, I was thinking about what I could do from now on. Girls were strange, and there was this thematic bar too. I didn't know why, but I had an unpleasant feeling, as if I was foreseeing something gone wrong in the girls' enterprise. Certainly, I'm not against that business, but I also felt that I shouldn't join it. In the last days, I didn't feel good at the Hinata-sou.

Speaking about Hinata-sou, soon I got home. I saw some lights turned on at the Tea House. Haruka must be in a meeting with someone, because she doesn't open in Sundays. I begged leave to enter, it was when I realized the girls were out there. I felt myself quite constrained.

"Keitaro! How're you doing?", Kaolla screamed, flying against me. If I didn't do Jeet Kune Do classes with Seta-san, the forevermore browned girl's flying kick would hit me directly. I grabbed her and spun her into the air, putting her in the ground. So she screamed: "Keitaro, I love it! Let's repeat it!".

"Not now, Su-chan... I need to rest", I explained to the Indian featured girl.

"Hi, Kei-kun! We missed you! Are you having a walk?", Mutsumi-san inquired me, using the affectionate way she always has.

"Well, sorry, but I'm tired… I think we can have a chat another time… Ah, Haruka-san?", I spoke. The attempt of avoiding a chat clearly let the girls with long faces, expect for the Kaolla-chan's eternal smile.

"Yes, Keitaro?", Haruka replied.

"We need to make a change, because we'll have a new tenant from tomorrow on", I explained her. Girls were looking with surprise, so the quiz didn't wait too long to start.

"Who's she?", Naru asked, showing some anger.

"What's her occupation?", Kitsune asked me, appearing to be doubtful.

"Has she a good temper?", Motoko inquired of me, keeping a serious aspect.

"Does she like to have new friends?", Mutsumi wanted to know, smiling and putting her right hand in the face.

"Is she boring?', Sarah asked me, making her usual defiant expression.

"What's her name?", Shinobu inquired of me, very shy.

"Is she beautiful?", Kaolla asked me. This was the critical question, because all girls looked to Kaolla, and they turned to face me again, showing inquisitive aspects.

"People, tomorrow I'll show her to all of you... But you don't need to worry, she seemed to me being someone nice, ok?", I affirmed, trying to avoid more problems. It's not so hard to imagine what the Hinata-sou tenants could make when they are hot tempered. So I completed: "I wish a good night for all of you, see you".

So I went to my bedroom. I didn't wanna have a conversation like that. Mainly with them. Every time I start a discussion with girls, I get myself into a trouble. Today, I don't wanna fly away in the skies.

PV: KITSUNE

The same way I saw Keitaro come in, I saw Keitaro go out. I looked to other girls, and I noted they were somewhat disappointed with the fact that Kanrinrin didn't want to have a long talk. I felt this situation will give more chapters…

Well, it's not my problem if a new tenant is coming. This is something desired by Kanako, isn't it? The only thing were really concerning me was the thematic bar. It'll be the first business I manage; it's obvious I'll have Haruka-san's help (because she owns the place), but I'm a rookie as administratrix. Well, I worked as bartender before, so this is thing I'll make easily…

After the moment when Keitaro went out from the room, Haruka-san decided to finish the meeting and said she wanted to go out too. We thanked for the Haruka hospitality and we went back to the inn. In the way, I got closer to Shinobu and asked: "Shinobu-chan, when will the suits be ready for use?".

"Oh, Kitsune-san, I don't have an exact date to finish, but I'll try to have everything ready till Thursday, is it ok for you?", Shinobu responded me.

"Of course, my dear. If you think you can't afford the task, ask for some help from Kaolla or Sarah. I believe they won't deny any help to you…", I affirmed.

"That's ok, Kitsune-san, you don't need to worry so much. I believe I'll be able to finish the suits by Thursday… I think the most important thing is getting some help from girls to adorn the place to receive the clients on Friday night…", Shinobu explained me.

"Well, this is a thing you can count on with my work. It's good to talk to you, Shinobu…", I said to her. As always, she got very flushed.

"Oh, Kitsune-san, what'll be the situation for the new tenant?", Shinobu inquired me. That question was very sudden.

"What do you mean, darling?', I asked her.

"Well, this new tenant will be a part of the Hinata-sou… Will she join the thematic bar?", Shinobu completed.

"Ah, this subject… For a while, she don't… Let's set her apart for a while… Let's see how she is in her behaviour, before we can count on her", I answered.

"Hmm, it's all right... Well, I think it's time to sleep, because this week will be long. See you soon, Kitsune-san!", Shinobu dismissed me.

"See you tomorrow, Shinobu-chan... Have nice dreams!", I said to her.

I'm waiting that our dream of making a successful thematic bar to all of us comes true. Otherwise, I believe your life at Hinata-sou will be more expensive than now…

- X -

Chapter written in Feb-01-2005, and translated between Jun-26-2006 and Jun-27-2006. Sorry about my lateness, but I was studying a lot and I was busy making lots of chapters to the original version in Portuguese. Well, it's a heavy job: I need to write something despite my lack of imagination, and I need to translate what I wrote to English (of course, I have some help from Martin Gradwell, due to the fact I'm not an English native speaker). I'm trying to translate as many chapters as I can do. I never thought that writing would be so difficult.

Oh, the character Mizuho Fujisawa is in the game Love Hina Smile Again (for Dreamcast), beyond the fact she is the girl that appears in the coloured pages from the mangá's last book. She is even a theme of discussion in the Love Hina forums, because nobody knew who's the girl with brown hair appearing in two coloured pictures from "Photographs Album"(she is using veil and garland in one picture, with Naru and Mutsumi; in other one, she is using swimsuit and she's lying down in a bed, also near to Naru and Mutsumi). For more informations, just follow this saga!

I considered Y$ 40 R$ 1,00 (I used the approximate quotation from Jan-31-2005 between Japanese and Brazilian currency) to make the calculation for the costs. And I must thank GlazedAndConfused, because he always was able to help as beta reader… But Martin Gradwell is doing it again!