Omake:
Glycine's "Plan"
Ogami: It is the 15th year of Taisho and, once again, I am about to embark on a long jour--
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Please stand by
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To say that Ogami Ichiro was caught off-guard would be an understatement.
He tugged helplessly at the ropes that bound him securely to the chair. Sweat beaded his forehead as he watched the five ladies chat, giggle and pour tea while helping themselves to the teacakes that Mer and Ci had provided -- their contribution to the "cause".
"Um -- Erica-kun, do you think this is proper behavior for a novice?" Ogami laughed nervously.
Erica leaned over and patted him on the head. "It's okay, Ogami-san. When Glycine and Hanabi first approached me about their plan, I was a little apprehensive, too. But when they told me that this might help you to change your mind, then I volunteered to find them the rope."
She winked at him and whispered. "Besides, I'm not a novice anymore."
Glycine tapped the side of her teacup with a spoon. "This group discussion will now begin. We will discuss whether Ogami Ichiro should be allowed to return to Tokyo to those other women."
Coquelicot raised a hand. "I vote, 'NO!' The thought of Iris having my Ichiro to herself makes my blood boil."
Erica also raised her hand. "Me too. I like having Ogami-san here in Paris. He was with our Hanagumi-sempai for almost three years. It isn't fair that he would only stay with us for a few months."
Glycine regarded the soon-to-be-former squad leader. "What do you think, Ogami?"
"Um -- Can you untie me, please?"
Glycine shook her head. Her eyes narrowed. "We've attended your group discussions in the past. Now it's your turn to participate in this one."
"But-- but I never had to tie anyone to a chair!" Ogami protested.
"Now, now Ogami-san. Everything will be all right. You just have to agree to stay and we will untie you." Hanabi smiled as she offered him a biscuit. "You must try this, by the way. Mer tells me it's a new recipe."
Ogami sighed in resignation. "Don't you understand that I have no choice in this?"
"Of course you do!" Lobelia, who was sitting beside him, whacked him solidly on the back. "You can always go AWOL or --"
"But that would get me court-martialed and sent to prison."
"Then we can be cellmates! There's so much about prison life that I want to share with you --"
Lobelia was about to extol the greatness of prison life when she felt Erica's icy glare. "I'm kidding!" She nonchalantly picked up her teacup and took a sip. "I vote, 'No.'"
"I can always come back for a visit." Ogami said weakly.
"Iris would probably want to tag along. I won't stand for that." Coquelicot paused and thought for a moment. "But that also means that Reni would have to come along and..."
"Coquelicot! This isn't the time to have romantic fantasies about our Hanagumi-sempai! We're supposed to be convincing Ogami-san to stay." Erica exclaimed in exasperation.
Ogami shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He knew these women; knew how determined they were and how persuasive they could get.
It would be a long night.