"Shut up, Yuuki, it's not that funny."
"Yes, it is, Onii-chan," his younger brother chortled. "You can run, but you can't hide!" he chanted in a sing-song tone.
"I still don't get it," Kotoko looked up from her workbook. "I served at my dad's restaurant, so what's so bad about your mother working at Pandai? It is a family firm."
Seeing that his brother only shook his head in resignation, Yuuki took it upon himself to educate her. "See, Mom has got this idea stuck in her head that Onii-chan won't get married unless she orchestrates the whole thing."
"Orchestrates? You mean, with music?"
Taken aback, the boy stared at her for a minute while Naoki faked a cough. "No, I, ah, mean she wants to pick out the bride."
"Oh, yes. I heard about that. That Zumio company girl."
"Yeah, yeah, close enough. Well, Onii-chan got out of that and told Mom that society dimwits of that type weren't what he was looking for, him being a genius and all. Hey!" He tossed back the pillow that Naoki had lobbed at his head.
"I have no use for the tradition of sealing business deals with matrimonial bonds."
"So you're saying that because Mrs. Irie is married to Irie-sama, she shouldn't work with him?"
Yuuki gawked at her. "You're way off base. No, the students who apply for the Pandai mentoring position are highly intelligent and generally at the top of their classes. Since Onii-chan won't take a society bride, Mom plans to choose one from this year's batch of applicants. How many did you say were female?"
"Seven," Naoki replied, "but of those, there are only two, perhaps three, that she would consider seriously."
"Oh." Kotoko thought about it for a moment. "Are they the type that you would consider, if you were ready to make that decision?"
He paused as well before answering, "They would certainly be an improvement over her previous ideas, but I told her that I would choose my wife when the time is right."
"Do you know when that time will be?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I just don't want Mother to be the one to determine it."
Kotoko bit her lip. "Love is very important and should not be restricted by timing, since you never know how long it will last." She looked down, thinking of her parents' brief marriage. "Don't let your mother's enthusiasm blind you to the possibilities."
"I hadn't thought of it that way," he admitted. "I am semi-acquainted with one of those that I believe might be picked. I suppose I could at least extend a hand of friendship if she is selected."
"That's a good start." Kotoko gave a short nod and bent back over her work, wondering why saying the correct thing caused such an ache in her heart.
Naoki stared at her down-turned head, feeling a tinge of irritation at her words, almost as if she had been disloyal to their relationship. Relationship? he thought. Where did that come from?
Neither of them noticed that Yuuki's head had been moving between him and Kotoko, a look of speculation on his face.
"Jeez, Boss," Kinnosuke complained, "I just got back yesterday from the last festival. This'll make four back-to-back trips. I hardly get a chance to sleep in my own bed." Plus, he added to himself, he was kept so busy at the restaurant between the extra assignments, that he was asleep within minutes of arriving at his apartment. He didn't even have the energy to try to track down Kotoko.
"Sorry about that, but we need to strike while the iron is hot!" Mr. Aihara pressed. "Sales have been good and some positive word-of-mouth has been reported for our portable kitchen."
"But at least a couple of days off?" he whined.
"Now, son, you knew going into this that it was going to be a high-energy project. That's why I chose you, with your young body and ambitious soul."
"Um…"
"But if you're already thinking it's too much for you, I guess we can call quits on the whole plan." He let out a huge sigh. "It will be a great disappointment for all of us interested in this."
"'All of us'?" Kinnosuke's mind dissected the phrase and came up with only one conclusion: Kotoko. "No, no," he began.
"You really have to think of what's best for you," the older man continued. "Don't worry too much about letting us down."
"You misunderstand, Boss!" Kinnosuke cried, scrambling for a way back into his good graces. "I was just, uh, thinking that the truck could probably use an oil change before going out again. But, come to think of it, that wouldn't take too long. Here!" He ran and grabbed the keys off the wall hook. "I'll take it right now. I won't be long, and then you can tell me all about the next job!"
Mr. Aihara laughed under his breath as the front door slammed behind him. "Iri-chan, you always were a genius!"
"So, what's the word, Takami-san?"
His assistant sat in the visitor's chair, only to half-rise almost immediately when Kotoko emerged from the kitchenette with two cups of coffee.
"Remain seated, Takami-san," she said to him with a smile, placing his cup on the edge of Naoki's desk. "I'll be out of your way shortly."
He smiled and nodded at her. His hesitation when she had first been appointed to the position had quickly been overridden by her cheerful and open manner. "Where is she going today, Irie-san?" he asked once the door had closed behind her.
"Gaming design." Naoki shook his head. "For some reason they keep requesting her."
"Maybe she is spotting glitches," he guessed. "For all that her destruction of the one toy cost, it was certainly less than a lawsuit would have."
"Imagine her klutziness coming in handy." Naoki chuckled before taking a sip of the always-excellent brew. "Now, the latest on my mother's activities?"
"She has taken over the small conference room in addition to Tsukishima's desk. So that the interviews can be 'properly private'." His hands rose to make the air quotes.
"So that no one can monitor her," her son corrected in disgust.
"Perhaps, but they have been timed."
"I knew I made a wise choice when I promoted you," Naoki observed.
Takami pulled out his tablet. "Sessions with male candidates lasted less than ten minutes, and it was noted that they departed with dissatisfied expressions. Females lasted slightly longer, and the three you highlighted from the list spent at least forty-five minutes closeted with her."
"A fate I would not wish on anyone. It seems that she plans a second round, then, since I have not been presented with my new intern."
"I would assume so, but I do not know when they will be scheduled."
Naoki leaned back in his chair. "She may conduct them outside of the building, making it harder to monitor. Ah, well, what's for certain is that she will present the latest marital candidate in—how many weeks is it to summer break?"
"Three, Irie-san. Will he or she—
"Definitely 'she'."
"—have a desk in here, as in previous years?"
A smile spread slowly over his face. "No. That is where Mother miscalculated. This is Aihara's area, whether she is physically here or not." He indicated her empty desk. "Have Custodial locate a small desk and place it with yours out front."
Takami sighed. "Putting me in the line of fire."
"Send Mom and her complaints to me." Naoki waved at him. "I don't pay you enough to put up with her tantrums."
Mrs. Irie left the salon with revitalized energy. Her mind had wandered during the hand massage and manicure, setting the stage for the next step in her plan. She pulled out her phone and held a freshly polished nail over the saved contact, then reconsidered. As she replaced the phone in her bag, she instructed the driver to take her to Narisawa. After all, Minezaki will be more accommodating if I show up in person. And I can always have a flute of champagne while we work out the reservation details.
For a moment she recalled her husband warning her not to get her hopes up, but she blithely waved it away. Didn't he know by now that Irie Noriko only grew stronger with adversity?
The Irie brothers watched the apartment doorway until Kotoko made it inside. Yuuki clambered over from the back and buckled up in the recently vacated seat. "You know, you're missing out on a great opportunity to spike Mom's guns," he told Naoki.
"What do you mean?"
"Kotoko there." He jerked his thumb to indicate the building now over a block away.
"Mm?" Naoki glanced over after making a turn.
"She works for you," Yuuki spoke slowly, enunciating every word. "As your personal assistant, no less. Let her act as your fake girlfriend for awhile."
"Fake girlfriend?!" The car swerved slightly. "I didn't think you were into watching dramas."
"Look, Mom will have a hard time shoving another person onto you if you are seen dating someone already. I mean, it will take a real bit—uh, certain kind of woman to horn into an established relationship."
"But, Aihara? Otouto, even if she'd agree, you know she's not the type of woman Mother would approve of."
"In the end," Yuuki pointed out, "Mom won't have a choice, will she? I mean, you're going to pick whoever you want anyway."
"Yes, but…"
"Ask her. She's a good sort of girl."
"Except that I sort of promised her to give the new person a chance."
"I remember," Yuuki scowled. "Why the hell did you do that? You know you're not going to fall for the girl."
"I know, but it seemed important to Koto—Aihara."
"Go ahead and call her Kotoko." Yuuki slumped in his seat, turning on his game system. "I promise not to tell."
Yes, Naoki thought, but I can't get too comfortable calling her that in my mind.
