First Meetings
Disclaimer: I've borrowed a few characters from B Gata H Kei for the story. Outside of the plot and OC's, I own nothing.
Daisuke Matsuo sat at the wide desk of his large office facing two women, in a terrible predicament. The man sighed quietly to himself, the Matsuo Corporation had been established three generations ago by his Grandfather, who had since then retired to a happy life, handing the role of Chairman over to his Dad. As his Father had taken the Chairmanship, Daisuke himself had taken the role of President after completing college at quite a young age for a company president at 22 years old, but he had been competent in the role, as well as backed up by competent support.
However, four years later back in the present, the young President was now dealing with a matter completely different from the complex business deals or tiresome meetings with the Board that he was used to. The reason being the two ladies sitting in front of him. The woman sitting to his left was normal as could be. Her skin was a pale complexion, her hair was dark, straight and shoulder length, and she was dressed in a black business suit with the attire completed with a pair of sunglasses, hiding her eyes.
The lady sat on his right was extraordinary to say the least. She was a Scylla, and her appearance was a complete contrast to her accomplice. This lady's skin was a tanned bronze, her hair was a wavy golden blonde, and her tentacles were a dark green as if matching the colour of her eyes. Lady looks like a natural gyaru Daisuke thought in his head. Her fashion had left much to the imagination as well. Her outfit was similar to a tribal outfit, showing a fair bit of skin, and reminded Daisuke more of something a belly dancer would wear. It consisted of a metal and cloth breastplate and an armoured skirt covering the top half of her eight lower limbs. Completing her wardrobe were a jewelled choker and braces on her wrists, and silk that ran from her breastplate and stopped just above her belly button.
It had been fortunate that she had donned a full length raincoat whilst entering the office. I don't want any weird rumours being spread or any scandals happening here the guy had thought to himself. Despite being happily married, he had to admit she was quite a beauty and he used this excuse to take in her features, summing up all of his willpower to ensure his eyes didn't wander down to her scantily cladded bust.
'So what can I do for you Ms Smith?' he questioned, seizing an opportunity to look away from his second guest.
The businesswoman sat in silence for a moment, sipping on the coffee he had offered them. A moment longer, she placed the cup onto the desk and stood up.
'Matsuo-sama', she finally spoke. 'I would like to introduce to you to Lady Christella Andersen, a descendant from a prestigious line of noble Scylla's, originating from Northern Europe'.
Daisuke turned his attention to the second girl once more.
'A pleasure to meet you Miss Andersen', he greeted the lady in English, bowing politely before offering his hand.
The girl looked at the hand in silence and almost borderline hostility, but eventually she relaxed and took the hand, shaking it in a gentle grip.
'It's nice to meet you too Matsuo-san', speaking in fluent Japanese as her sharp features turned somewhat more pleasant with a small polite smile.
This brief curt attitude put the man on alert and he had a feeling that things were not going to smoothly as he expected.
'Mind telling me what's going on here?' he asked once again as he returned to his seat.
The pair had turned up unannounced during his hour break from his schedule and he had been about to have his lunch. The woman in glasses took a deep breath and stated their purpose for being here.
'We've have come here to seek a host family for Christella-sama here', she stated.
Daisuke sat there in silent response. Since three years ago when non-human species had revealed their existence, the Matsuo Corporation had played it's role in the Cultural Exchange Program, supplying necessary goods for the girl's health and everyday lives, finding work for them within the company, and even offering generous benefit packages for their own employees to take in these girls as host families.
And the name Andersen was no stranger to the young President. When the first meetings and negotiations for the settlement and hosting had begun, he and his Father had quickly became familiar with a certain Lady Sylvia Andersen. The Andersen's were immensely wealthy and it had been this wealth and influence that had allowed them to be key figures in the business dealings, particularly for representing the interests of the Scylla's, Lamia's, Centaur's and Mermaid's, a big portion of the potential guest population. They were also personal clients to the company. So it meant that if Daisuke couldn't do something or refused this request, then it could have severe consequences in future dealings, and ruin all of his brother's hard work behind the scenes up until now.
'Even if you make a high profile request like this', Daisuke finally said after long thought. 'This is pretty sudden and will take some time to even make possible'.
His response was met with silence from the two ladies.
'I'm going to have to apologize Matsuo-sama', Smith pulled a face as she spoke. 'But it has to be done by the end of today'.
This time it was her turn to be greeted with an unpleasant silence as the Matsuo stared back at her with a not so impressed look on his face.
'And what happens if I am unavailable to find suitable accommodation for the young lady', he finally spoke.
He thought for a moment before turning his attention the room's third occupant.
'Plus what happened with her original host family arrangements?' he questioned with a cocked eyebrow. 'The legislation states that there needs to be a host family in the first place for the ladies to even be allowed a visa'.
Both girls looked away at this statement. That's not a good sign he thought.
'Some issues came up with them', Smith managed to say. 'To cut the story short, Lady Andersen was forced to leave that place too'.
'Too?' Daisuke's brow went up even higher upon hearing this.
'Lady Andersen has already with a number of hosts, and with regret, it has sadly not worked out with any of them'.
Daisuke Matsuo kept listening in silence as Smith continued talking.
'The probationary period of her visa is coming to an end, tomorrow actually. If we're unable to find her a new host by the end of today, then she will have to return home. Lady Andersen has not had the best of stays here and will return with nothing but a bad impression of Japan and this could threaten the whole Exchange Program'.
And being the daughter of one of our biggest business partners and clients, this could have terrible repercussions for the company.
The young President stood up and walked towards the glass window of his office. He saw people and demi-people walking across the streets, being small like ants far below him.
'Miss Smith' he said in careful wording. 'Why does my company of all places have to the one to resolve this sad mess?'
The lady tried to speak, only to cut off as the man kept talking.
'I have nothing against these ladies, but whilst some of your matches have gone well without any real problems occurring, there have been many cases where it's not gone well and it's cost the company dearly'.
Like any other Japanese company, the Matsuo Corporation had wanted to avoid any bad public relations or scandals from happening. The Exchange Program had caused it's fair share of problems concerning this. Certain matches had failed due to incompatibility or even misconduct with one of the two parties. There had been cases with the host families exploiting the girls financially or cases of sexual harassment towards them. Other examples included the guests causing nothing but trouble for their hosts or even assaulting them with excessive force.
Legal action had been taken almost immediately in most cases, and it had led to more than one employee of the company being dismissed for breach of their host agreement and gross misconduct, and more then one girl being deported for their affronts to the law. Daisuke had lost count of how many times he had had to bow in apology after the first dozen times. And then, there had been the financial costs. To avoid being taken to court, the company had had to pay millions in yen for settlements out of court, and this had put serious financial strain on the company. Stress had been building up and patience had ran out to the point where the Vice-President had snapped and suggested that they cease participation in the Exchange Program until they had regained control of the situation and put the hosts and monster girls through a more thorough process of interviews.
He had been overruled by Daisuke and the Chairman, but this had done nothing to prevent the stream of immigrants coming into Japan, or agents like Smith constantly harassing companies like theirs to pressure their employees to take in more girls. Clashes had occurred between the Matsuo Corporation and these agents, with both sides trying to force the responsibility and blame on the other.
'The Cultural Exchange Program was a program brought up by the government itself'.
Daisuke looked back at Agent Smith and gave her a hard stare.
'Ms Smith, you do realize that, speaking as a private citizen, shouldn't cases like this be handled by you, who's a part of the government, instead of me. You can try shifting blame and neglecting your responsibilities, but these sad messes has been caused by agent's such as yourself'.
Kuroko Smith was by far the worst of them, rushing through exchange interviews and introductions, only then to disappear, leaving the hosts to deal with a mess that hadn't been thought through properly.
But Daisuke Matsuo hadn't been an idle man, he and the Vice-President had recorded all of these incidents, filing complaint after complaint of the woman's neglectful attitude and her sloppy conduct to her superiors and it had finally taken its toll. He was no fool, he knew that the agent was now in a desperate situation herself, for the safety of her own career.
'Ms Smith, if I'm unable to do anything about this, then it's your career that is in danger here', he stated.
Seeing her flinch at this note gave him some satisfaction. He came back to the desk and reached for a drawer in desk, pulling out a bulging file of paperwork. No sooner had he produced it, he dropped it on the table, causing it to emit a huge bang from it's weight that echoed within the room, startling both of his guests.
'Given the fact that you've continuously neglected your duties, leaving the host families to do all of the work, despite the fact that as a Cultural Exchange Coordinator, it's your job to integrate these ladies into our society, and your indecisiveness and lack of competence has cost us all dear'.
A lack of response from the usually elusive Ms Smith meant he had pretty much hit the mark, but he continued to press his attack.
'I've a backlog of recordings of you merely introducing these girls to host families, sometimes the wrong families altogether, giving them brief introductions, only then to run off and let them do all of the work of which you're supposed to do'.
Reaching into his desk once more, Daisuke pulled out a letter.
'This', he stated, waving the envelope. 'Is a letter from your superiors in response to the ones that our Vice-President has been sending over'.
Kuroko grimaced at the mention of that person. She could manage most men, but that guy terrified her, it was the very reason why she preferred meeting with President Matsuo during these matters, as she had found out early and the hard way that the Vice-President had been nothing like Darling-kun. She had never been able to handle the straight man types, the assertive, no-nonsense ones that weren't scared calling her out on her bs.
'Your superiors', President Matsuo continued, interrupting her thoughts by picking up another document. 'Were kind enough to send him this, a terms and conditions of a Cultural Exchange Coordinator, as well as a job profile clearly defining what is expected of you in your role'.
This got Christella Andersen's attention.
'What do you mean to say Mr Matsuo?' the Scylla questioned, being her turn to raise an eyebrow.
Ms Smith began sweating a cold sweat.
'What I mean to say Miss Andersen', the President turned to her. 'Is that many of the legal battles and troubles concerning the non-humans and their hosts, have been because of the agents, including Ms Smith here. The interviews needed to be more in depth, the Vice-President pretty much wanted them to be a combination of a job interview and marriage interview . . . . to an extent anyway'.
The mention of 'marriage interview' caused both Daisuke and Christella blush a little red, but being professionals, both recovered quickly.
'Put simply, the job interview half is where we would see if the hosts are being socio-economically capable for the role of accommodating ladies such as yourself. This includes a suitable job and stable salary to support themselves, as well as a home with the necessary space and utilities required for house the ladies, especially ones that take up extra space, due to their larger forms, such as Arachne's, Centaurs and Lamia's, so they can't hurt themselves in confined spaces'.
Having a wife himself, Daisuke was wise enough as to not imply the non-human ladies as fat, and had chosen his words carefully.
'Other professional requirements are being up to date with the laws concerning the Species Exchange Program, the knowledge of the specific requirements of the certain species they're hoping to accommodate and willing to honour the terms and conditions that we, as their employers, have set out for them'.
'And the marriage interview half?' the Scylla asked with curiosity.
Daisuke Matsuo remained quiet for a long moment and answered the woman's question.
'The marriage interview half is the personal side, what the Vice-President has placed great emphasis on, where put both the guests and hosts through a thorough preliminary screening. This includes their personalities and an extensive background check, including cooperation with the authorities for a criminal record'.
The President took a breath before continuing.
'With the more recent law changes concerning relationships between humans and demi-humans, we thought about adding in the personal preferences of both parties, as well as . . . . . any romantic or sexual preferences too'.
This last part mentioned caused an awkward silence.
'This has been the subject that has caused the most trouble', Andersen finally spoke, looking to the other woman.
Smith froze under the Scylla's intense glare.
'I have been getting numerous complaints on my side, of the ladies concerning these matters Ms Smith. Very similar to what we have both heard right now'.
Daisuke Matsuo sat back in his chair, letting the lady take over, and curious of her thoughts on the matter.
'The Cultural Exchange Program, in theory, was intended to allow the girls to sample human society, with the goal being for them to gain the essential experience and knowledge that would allow them to adapt and fit into the societies of their host countries'.
The lady took a sip of tea, cleared her breath and continued.
'In reality, there has been success, and there has also been failure. What Mr Matsuo has stated here is pretty much a repeat of what my Mother has been saying. About how more extensive, face-to-face interviews with deep, even embarrassing personal questions being needed. Such as sexual desires, and fetishes, in order to avoid the guests or hosts being trapped with some pervert where sexual harassment or assault is inevitable. This is the results of the downright sloppy efforts and incompetence caused by the lack of proper preparation by yourself and your colleagues Ms Smith'.
As Christella Andersen tore into the agent, Daisuke took a deep mouth of his coffee, using the cup to conceal the big smirk on his lips, the whole scene pretty much reminding him of the Vice-President's rants of when Smith and the other agents were screwing things up.
'I, myself, have been on the receiving end of this kind of disgusting treatment, and it has pretty much ruined my trust in men, to the point I can't see them as people or on a romantic level'.
This caused the President to cock an eyebrow. Sounds like my brother's approach towards women he thought, continuing to use his cup to conceal the involuntary smirk on his lips.
'Now, the Matsuo Corporation has been a great business partner', the Scylla turned her attention to the man once again. 'Professionally, they have provided good business, and have been quick and decisive in their responses in dealing with the incidents as mentioned before. A new system of interviewing, suggested by the Vice-President, was an excellent idea, and shows how the Corporation in general is serious about their commitment and obligations to us girls. Personally, I do not want relations to sour between our companies or our species to that matter, and I do want to eventually settle here. I . . . . even I want to meet someone special to call my own'.
She took deep drink of her tea, before sighing a sad sigh.
'However, with all of the more recent . . . . disappointments, I'm finding it hard to try again'.
This sad statement brought on a sober mood, and returned them back to the original point. Matsuo put his cup back down onto the desk.
'Okay Miss Andersen', his face now serious with the matter at hand. 'I'll see what I can do'.
Reaching into his desk once more, he produced his business laptop, turned the device on and brought out some paper and a pen.
'Okay Miss Andersen', he spoke as he logged onto his business account. 'What are your requirements?'
Fifteen minutes later
After completing a serious of questions, Daisuke had a rough idea of what the Scylla was seeking in a host family. She required a sizable room with a double bed, working air condition to maintain a warm environment for her health and wellbeing, spacious corridors to move around unhindered in and a large bathroom with a bathtub the size of a small swimming pool. Other less compulsive requests the lady had asked for had been a nice garden with plenty of space for gardening and a large living room with furniture for her size to allow her to relax in her free time. These had been the household requirements.
The other set of requirements had been that of what Christella Andersen was looking for in a host. They were literally on their final chance here, so it had to be someone she would get along with for certain. The detailing had been specific. She had wanted a man roughly her age (slightly younger if possible), they had to be fit and healthy, one who was handsome (or on the cute side). They had to be respectable, both in public and in private, someone who would not only respect her as a woman, but also as a different species too. He needed to have intelligence and a straightforward personality, with a similar mentality to hers. She also preferred to be the only monster girl in the household, and wanted to be kept away from Mermaids specifically. She refused to explain her reasons why though. Must be personal Daisuke refused to pry as he wrote down notes.
It was the final requests where it began to get weird. The hosts needed to confess their tastes in women and any fetishes that may cause problems. Daisuke had almost spat out his coffee when the Vice-President had mentioned this in the talks about the new system of interviews, claiming that this honesty was vital to know in order to avoid any more expensive lawsuits and mishaps happening.
Now having finished his questioning, Daisuke was tapping away on his laptop, going through the company database of employers who were registered as hosts. After a few minutes of browsing, he had come up with nothing. There were many employees who tick some of the boxes, but none of them covered all of the Scylla's basic requirements, with many wanting a Mermaid or a Lamia instead. Are Scylla's really that unpopular in this company he thought as he had filtered the database to species preference. There was not one person amongst the couple hundred or so registered persons who had chosen his guest's species.
'I regret to say', the man chose his words carefully. 'That there aren't any of our employees who fit your basic requirements Miss Andersen'.
The lady's reaction came off as sad disappointment.
'Are my species really that unpopular?' Christella finally replied in sadness.
'Matsuo-sama, there has to be someone, even if they're not already signed up for the Program', Smith began to get desperate. 'Can't you use your authority to get one of your employees to register them on the spot?'
This did not get the reaction she wanted.
'Kuroko Smith, that may be how you do things ', Daisuke replied in quiet anger. 'But here in the Matsuo Corporation, we conduct ourselves with professionalism and respect'.
It was now approaching early afternoon, and it was too late and sudden to rope in a new person for a last minute registration anyway.
'Pulling a last minute stunt like that, like what you usually do, is not going to have the healthiest of circumstances for either party'.
The Matsuo turned his gaze to the second lady.
'That's the reason why we're in the predicament in the first place', he sadly stated.
His little lecture had silenced any opposition from Ms Smith, making it quite clear that they were not going to do things her way.
'Isn't there anyone', Smith finally responded. 'Anyone you know personally? Can't you pull any favours in?'
'This isn't some business deal Smith', the man looked at the room's third occupant. 'And I'm pretty sure Miss Andersen doesn't want to be treated that way either'.
'Can't you take her in?' Smith was grasping at straws here.
'No I can't', Daisuke shot that idea down. 'My wife and I don't have the room, not since we took in Chloe-san after your last mishap'.
Chloe-san was an Arachne in her early twenties, and like Daisuke had mentioned, she had been the last girl left without a home that Smith had brought to them as a refugee a couple of years back. This incident had been the last straw for the Vice-President, who had wasted no time in chewing Smith a new one and filing a complaint to Smith's superiors with plenty of evidence backing it. Fortunately, however, Miharu, Daisuke's heavily pregnant wife at the time, had been understanding with the situation, welcoming the young lady into their house, giving her a tour and settling her in. As if to show her appreciation, the young Arachne had become their housekeeper, easing the strain on his expecting wife, cooking and cleaning, even making them clothes with her silk and even going on to act as a babysitter when the twins were born.
'Besides', Daisuke said back in the present. 'Miss Andersen said she wants to be on her own. So that's not happening either'.
Daisuke Matsuo looked at the female Scylla with some thought. She wasn't just the daughter of their most important client, personally, she wasn't a bad girl, if anything she was a good girl just encountering bad luck one homestay after another. The constant betrayal of the people who had been hosting her had ruined her faith in men and people in general, as well as her hopes for an actual partner. The Scylla were female only, so they had in the past sought out males of other species to bring into their tribes as communal husbands to bolster their population, but like with the Lamia's, the laws of the Exchange Program had forced a stop to this, and as a result was leading to declining birth rates and aggravation from the younger generations through lack of companionship and pent up lust.
The man leant back in his chair, racking his brains, trying to find someone in head who he could call that fitted even the basic necessities of Christella Andersen. As he thought more and more of the young lady's plight, it began to remind him more and more of someone who had had gone through very similar circumstances.
Maybe . . . just maybe they can help each other.
'Okay ladies', he finally spoke. 'I think I know someone who can help us here. It's not a certainty, but there's no harm in asking him'.
'Really?' Smith's face lit up instantly. 'Who is it?'
'My brother', he replied, taking out his phone.
'WHAT!?' the woman started panicking again. 'No, no, no, no, no, anyone but that guy'.
'Ms Smith, we're out of options', Daisuke ignoring her pleas as he pulled out his phone.
He selected his brother's number and switched the phone to loud speaker, the phone buzzed for twenty seconds or so, then, the call was picked up.
'Hey Daisuke', his brother replied on the other side of the line. 'What's up?'
'Hi Riku', Daisuke replied back. 'I've not caught you at a bad time have I?'
'It's my day off, I've just finished my gym session now. Aren't you in work? What's happened?'
All three people on the other side of the line looked at each other, treading softly.
'Riku, I need a favour off you'.
'What kind of favour?' his brother replied, his voice sounding cautious.
The older Matsuo sibling braced themselves for what was to come.
'I need you to host a young lady at your place. You've got space and you were boasting about that huge bathroom you had installed last week'.
'Anyone we know?' Riku replied back after a long moment of silence
'Christella Andersen', Daisuke responded, looking to the lady herself.
'Chris-san?' a surprised voice came back. 'That's can't be right. She's already been hosted last week by one of the new faces in HR. I tended to the matter myself, with a fair warning to the guy of what would happen if he tried any funny stuff'.
During this talk, the tone of the younger Matsuo had shifted from caution, to surprise, to anger about to brew. Daisuke knew his brother too well, and yet he still charged forward.
'Miss Andersen has left that household as well'.
'WHAT!?' Riku exploded over the phone, causing both girls to jump and the guy to winch at the outburst. 'DAISUKE, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!?'
'Riku calm down, calm down', the older brother tried to defuse the situation, looking to the lady in question. 'Miss Andersen assaulted her host and after a heated argument, she was forced with no choice but to leave for own safety'.
'You mean her host tried some perverted stunt, and Chris-san fought back in self-defence more like'.
Back in her chair, Christella gave a small smile. She and Riku Matsuo got on quite well professionally and on personal terms, being the key drivers for the Exchange Program for their respective parents. They had even addressed each first name basis. Their personalities clicked, whilst at the same time, both knew that the other had things that the other didn't want to talk about, but with both sides respecting the other's privacy. During her self-reflection, she had missed half of Riku's tirade of what he was going to do with the most recent offender.
'Well Daisuke, guess what I'm doing when I get back from my leave'.
'I'll have the Section Chief take care of it instead', the President countered'. 'You've chewed out enough people this month Riku'.
'That's because we're not being thorough enough in the interviews. We need to ask their personal preferences, and as embarrassing as it is, sexual preferences as well. We suffered financially enough for these sad messes. All because of the government agents like that Smith woman neglecting her duties and shifting responsibility solely onto us'.
There was a pause in the conversation as every held their breath in anticipation or fear.
'Daisuke', Riku questioned, his voice taking a low, deadly tone. 'She's not there by any chance is she?'
Daisuke looked to woman, who was violently shaking her head, praying for silence.
'She's in front of me right now', he replied, signing her death warrant.
'Right well you make sure she doesn't leave any time soon please', his brother requested. 'She and I are going to have a word'.
'Sure thing Riku', the older Matsuo complied, pressing a button on his desk
Even before Kuroko Smith could make a break for it, two burly security guards entered the room, cutting off her escape, resigning herself to her dreadful fate, the woman slumped back into her chair.
'Back to what I was asking you originally Riku', Daisuke got back to the main subject. 'Is it possible you can take Miss Andersen in please'?
'There's nowhere else for her to go?' the man's tone calming and becoming serious once more.
'No, there isn't sadly', the President's tone becoming serious in response. 'And her temporary visa expires tomorrow'.
'She'll have to return home, and might not ever return', Riku caught on.
A long silence lingered in the room.
'Daisuke', his brother finally spoke. 'I'm coming down to the office now. Chris-san and I need a face-to-face interview like the ones we've been talking about. We need to seriously talk this out, and we need to see if she's comfortable in living with me. You can deal with that moron from HR, but I'm dealing with Smith'.
'Sorry about this Riku', Daisuke answered as both he and his Scylla guest smiled with relief.
'It's not your fault, I'll see you soon'.
'See you soon, Vice-President'.
And with that, Daisuke Matsuo hung up.