My inheritance is wrong, as expected

by Nostrategy

Bits to a frame of a story about society and class. And a bit of magic. For Hachiman magic is needed to change his status in society.

6. 6) The art of dating at Christmas Eve

When you wish upon a star

Hachiman

I know when I am unwanted, mother. Especially when father gets that old movie projector out from the closet. Please, get with the time, and have it put on a key-desk, don't disturb the neighbor's tonight, and have an ambulance on speed-dial. Fathers form is not longer, what it was, when you made the movie.

But at least I got a bundle of yen together with a symbolic kick in my ass and a comment about being a useless son, since I had not been able to get a date tonight. But then mother doesn't know, that I expect a call later with orders to be at a ramen restaurant somewhere in Chiba.

Mother must have bribed Komachi earlier, since she has left to go karaoke caroling with some friends. As long it is not a Christmas date with a bug, singing and eating cake with friends is probably not the worst way to spend Christmas Eve. But then I am a proud loner, so what do I know about that?

So how to spend my time? I should probably find some gifts to my Miko's as payment for their voluntary work in my temple. But what would be reasonable gifts? Too little, and I will be teased, especially by a certain fox. Too much, and they will be embarrassed.

I can ask Hiratsuka-sensei when we have ramen later, if she has any ideas about what I should do in regard to gifts, or I could ask Tanaka-san at the Association. Maybe there is a procedure for that, since it seems that the Association have a procedure for everything.

Tanaka

As I hear the ring ring of the phone, I wonder. Who calls on this day? This is a day for love, not work. I look myself in the mirror. Yes, I think I look suitable for my date tonight. Safe is the message I am going for. The more comfortable she is with the situation, the easier my work.

The phone continues. Hopefully it is not more work regarding the visit of the Imperial Highnesses. The court official is impossible. It is as they are trained in being obnoxious.

I give after for the noise and take it. Oh, it is the boy. What does he want now?

"Hallo, Abe no same, how can I help?".

"Sorry to disturb, Tanaka-san. I am out looking for gifts for the Miko's as payment for they work. Are there any rules in regard to what they should get?" he asks.

Why would he pay them for that? It is an honor for them to serve. Youth now, today. But maybe. My girl is one of them, and it would be advantageous for me, if I could get her somewhere, when I discreetly can remove the spell work later, if she succeeds in getting away. It is best, there is nothing for any enforcer to trace afterward. So:

"Well, there is actually no rules in that regard, Abe no sama. But if I may suggest?"

The reply is: "Pease do, I have no idea at all".

The boy is already turning into a real sama, easily to guide. I think I will get a good relationship with him in the future: "The Association have interest in several old shines and temples, who also have facilities for staying, including some with hot-springs. The temple can hire such a place for a reasonable price for training purpose".

"Oh, you mean we can get a weekend at an in with food and a hot-spring cheaply?".

"Yes, Abe no sama".

"That sounds perfect. Can the Association arrange booking and transport? Then I will return with some possible dates for the training".

"We live to serve, Abe no sama".

"Thank you, Tanaka-san. And sorry to disturb, and if you have a date tonight, good luck with it".

"Thank you, Abe no sama. The same to you".

The boy is rather nice. Wishing me success with my errand. Now, I must have him trained to tip for services. He has kobans enough to share.

Hachiman II

I like the professionalism of men like Tanaka. Maybe I could hire him to run the temple on a day to day basis, taking care of all those administrative details? After all, a successful leader is one, who can delegate work to others. Source: Me and a lot of others, who don't like to work. To work is to lose.

And a hot-spring sounds good. Maybe I can get my angel to participate? I did miss the chance to take a bath with Totsuka in Kyoto. The pain. I still remember the pain.

I need something soothing, like a Max Coffee, some snack and a manga. The mall next to the community center should be the closest place.

I feel the touch of a shoulder on my back, so I turn around. A man looks apological at me, and give me a small bow, before hurrying away, checking his phone. I check my wallet. It is where it should be. Just another crash in the Christmas throng, except we are not that many here. People. Look around when walking, not at your phone.

Yukino

Coal in a sock is obviously not an item, they have ready for sale at Christmas. A lot of opportunities regarding socks, but no coal. So maybe socks with reindeers and a stone painted black. Sister will understand it, and probably consider it funny.

As a gift for Hachiman, his own teacup chosen by Yui and with a print chosen by me. It will eliminate the need for a paper cup, and as such help create a better future. It is the act of the individual, that changes the world. That is actually a quite good sentence. I will put it on my homepage, when it is ready. I look forward to seeing the presentation of my homepage after Christmas. Maybe it can be ready, so I can put up a speech for New Year on it.

Yui. I don't know what to get for her. It was easier last time, when I was looking together with Hachiman. Even if Yui misunderstood what her gift was. Using it as a neckless. Only Yui.

Nothing to do but stroll around and hope I get an idea. I take the escalator down, and there we meet.

Hachiman III

I look at her, just my luck. Of course, I enjoy the view of her, as her body become more and more visible, as the escalator move her down to me. A sight most men and boys will enjoy. Source: A lot of literature, but my danger sense has just started doing overtime. What is dangerous in this situation?

"Good evening", she greets me.

"Hey, out shopping?": A stupid question with the bags she is carrying, but then I am not known for my eloquence, but my eyes. Source: A lot of other people, especially of the female kind.

"And what about you? What are you doing out so late?" She asks.

"My mother and father want to enjoy the night together, watching a movie they did when they were students. We children know to get away, when they start getting love sappy" I reply with a smile: "So why are you out?":

Yukino II

He smiles, as he tells about his parents. I feel envious. I don't remember seeing my parents that way. Formal and cold, yes, and then the other way, when I opened the door. To think I was created through that.

I look at him. It is as Yui has remarked. He is filling out, as he is turning from a boy into a man. His chest and legs look more engraved and he stands straighter than before. Is it a result of his dance training? But his eyes. They look wrong. It is as his head have the mission to carry his eyes. What do they see? Oh, he asks me something, why I'm out?

"I am looking for a gift for Yui. I am going to meet her later", I respond.

"Oh, Christmas cake. I myself am going for ramen, probably very spicy" he replies.

What is it with him and ramen? It was also ramen in Kyoto, together with Hiratsuka-Sensei. Don't tell me, he is meeting with her. She is a teacher; he is a student. That is indecent. Don't go the way of Hayato.

"So, it is still difficult to find something to her? What a mess last time. What about a book?" He says.

"Yui, a book?" I ask surprised.

"Yes, Yui has talked a lot about Marxism lately. Maybe Yui likes its structured approach. As many other religions, it is based on the principle, that man is good, but as such it is faulty, because man is ignorant, lazy and gleeful" he laughs.

"Yes, man is. That's why we women always must ensure, that man is held to the task" I reply happily. We are back in the game, 15 – zero to me.

But he is right, Maybe a book by Henry George about land value tax. That is one of the issues that Marx didn't do.

"Let's go to the bookshop. I was going there anyway. I am looking for some manga to spend time until I get my call" he responds.

"What call?" I ask.

"From Hiratsuka-Sensei, when her date has burned her," he answers, as it was quite natural. There is something wrong in that statement.

Hachiman IV

Sometimes Yukino asks the most obvious questions, like this:

"How do you know that Hiratsuka-Sensei will be burned by her date?".

We create reality with words, we change reality by words. In the beginning there was the word, and the word was with God. Or that is what most Christians say's.

"Because Hiratsuka-Sensei expects her date to go wrong. She is her own enabler. So, somehow it is going to go wrong with her date tonight. And when it has gone wrong, then she will call me to meet her somewhere to eat ramen and let her vent her anger. And the ramen it is always spicy. The hotter the date, the more she is burned, the spicier the ramen. And she has a very hot date tonight".

"Why do you not tell Hiratsuka-Sensei that? So, she does not stay caught in her loop of self-harm" Yukino continues her barrages of questions. Her twisted sense of noblesse obliges at work again.

"Hiratsuka-Sensei already knows that subconscious. I told you before, that it is part of her life-lie. The lie that she wants to get married, that she wants to fulfill the expectations of family and friends, of society. The failures are the stories she tells herself and others, to make her accepted by society, by making her the fool. Hiratsuka-Sensei could get married tomorrow, is she actually wanted to be married, as long as she does not expect anything genuine" I explain.

Yukino III

What does he mean by that? Something genuine? I don't understand: "Something genuine?".

He gazes at me whit his dead eyes, and yet, something seems to stir inside them as he answers me: "Genuine. It is different from person to person. For my parents it is the ability to be together without words. To understand each other. I think I have been spoiled by their example. But I want to know; I want to understand, I want peace of mind from understanding, so I may achieve tranquility in being. My teachers will say I am arrogant, in trying to reach such a level at my age, when it takes ages to reach it, and most never get there".

He speaks words, but what does he really say? Understanding and reaching tranquility. That is quite Buddhist, like a real priest speak. Is Hachiman serious now? Does he actually wish to become a priest now? Will he do the work, that would make him worthy to be called sama? I thought he was doing it in order to get his inheritance and not have to work. Have I changed him so much? It makes me feel good, that I can make others changes for the better. By being their example or by the rod and the whip. I smile, as I reply: "Abe-no san, I accept your request, it is after all, what the Service club is for". Oops, what did I just think?

Hachiman V

A request. How did she perceive our conversation as a request from me? I thought I was just showing off, by being intelligent, cool and deep. But why am I trying to show off to her now?

Her legs as they appeared slowly, as the escalator brought her into my view, the way, her hair moved, as she got off it. Down mind. Down body. You both know the dangers she is for our reality. You are not going to put her back on the pedestal, we have removed her from. She is just a mortal girl. Not a Goddess. We will see the movie of her in the cat suit again, when we get home. That should be enough to satisfy us.

We walk to the bookstore, as I get myself under control again. I am an idiot, subject to the base instinct of man. Youth is evil.

Yukino IV
Freud, where do those slip comes from? Don't tell me, I know I am the product of my parents, but I am not my parents. I must get myself under control again. Fortunately, he is silent now. Maybe they have a book about my problem, no not a problem, a challenge.

Kaori

I slammed the door, as I got in. Tamanawa is an idiot. Why did he have to arrange a Christmas party for the elders, when we also had the march to do? It may have been the original idea for the cooperation with Sobu High but doing it alone had been a mistake. We simply didn't have the resources to do it properly alone. What a mess.

Hopefully none of the elders would die of the cakes we had bought cheaply from a failed café to solve the manpower problem, and most of the elders were probably deaf in advance, so would not have been harmed by the cats wailing from our orchestras. But then, Chiba city would probably see the arrangement as synergy between the school system and the nursing home, and a cost saving initiative over time by reducing the numbers of retirees in the city.

Have I been damaged by the way Tamanawa speak?

And of course, the girl who showed interest in Hachiman before, had asked why I had shown up in the media with him, when I had told her, how bad his face was. It had taken time to convince her, that we were out training and that she is more than welcomed to ask him for a date, when I get the time to approve his profile. Maybe I should recruit some first years in April to work as my gofers to get more time. My colleague is not the only one awaiting approval. Serving a God is hard work.

This is not the best way to start my Christmas teaching program of his girls. But at least the rest of the day could not be worse than it has already been. I then see my mother with a strange old man, sitting in the living room. He is holding yarn, no, please. Great Eros, have I not labored enough in your name? Why must I suffer so, think of the poor orphans in the world.

The chief

I look at the young girl, she is quite a pretty brunette, although she badly needs some advice regarding her hair. It does not suit her, turning her somewhat common, when she could be special, although she will never be as beautiful as her mother was at that time, but then she has also genes from her father, who was one of my most trusted men in those days. Hopefully it makes her less volatile than her mother. There was a reason her father was the only man in my squadron who dared to marry her, even if they all fancied her then.

I nod politely at her, but don't move. I know very well not to run any risk with the yarn. I don't want any of those knitting needles in my body by a "mistake". Her mother was after all my best assassin in the time when the war was cold.

Kaori II

I think I have seen him before, but why is he here now?

Mother smiles at me and ask: "Do you remember our old captain? Last time you saw him, you were very little". The old man nods at me, but don't move his arms. He must know mother well; she hates it when her yarn goes into rags.

So, he is one of father's old officers. I bow politely.

"Nice to meet you again, little peach. It is long time since I have had the chance to be back in Chiba", the old man says.

Argh, not that. One who knows my baby name. It took me long time to get father and mother to drop it, and so long as the terrible three is out of Japan, no one else should know it. I am a woman now, not a baby.

Yukino V

As I browse around in the book shop and picked up interesting books, I pass by a table, which present the history book of Chiba in the Sengoku period, I got a copy of through my date. An old man is holding a copy of the book in his hand, looking as he is evaluating if he should buy it.

I give him a small bow, saying: "I found it very interesting, when I read it. Lots of stories about Chiba, I didn't know about".

Not, at least the story about how Toyotomi destroyed the Chiba clan in his unification of Japan, and the role my family had in that, as vassals of Tokugawa. It is nice, that such things, don't matter today. After all, Tobe-san has never mentioned it, and his mother is one of my mother's best friends. Time lays all wounds, even if it is a fun thought, that according to the family trees Tobe-san would be our future daimyo, if the family had not been defeated, since his uncle do not have any male heirs.

So, it is for the best, that we were victorious, Kyoto was such a mess. If Tobe-san was to be the daimyo of Chiba, mother would undouble try to get me to marry him, and then I would have to use the rod and the whip to keep him and Chiba in order. No, not again. I look at the self-help books I have found. One of them must surely have the solution to my challenge.

"I think I recognize you. You are the daughter of our Diet-member, are you not?".

I look up again, the old man. Yes, I was speaking to him: "Yes, I am".

"Oh, I saw you doing the speech with my grandchildren. Very impressive. I had the honor to work with your great grandfather in the start of the fifties, when I was a young man. I know he would be proud of you. Your great-grandfather was a true leader. I hope one day you can take up his mantle. Chiba has been a sorry lacking in leadership for a long time. Maybe, yes. Since you recommended me a book, I think I should recommend you one too. It holds important lessons, even if it was written by a foreigner".

Megumi

"And I am a material girl", I sing as Madonna's new hit fades out and the others started to applaud my performance. I look around at the other girls from the club and Minami-chan, who for the first time is a participant of this gathering of hunters of treasures.

The professor has hopefully dug deep in his wallet, because "Diamonds are a girl's best friend", and I have won the girls Christmas competition every year, since I started to work at the club, and I won't start to lose now. A fun fact is that I have won, even if I am probably the only virgin in the room and in our year at Sobu High.

But as grandmother always say to me, I must ensure, before everything else, that the boy has: "Put a ring on it". Otherwise, it is not genuine, and I would just turn out as her and mother, losers in love. Not my destiny.

I walk to Minami-chan and give her the microphone:" Up girl, lets us hear your battel-song".

As Minami-chan starts to sing "Take a chance on me", I evaluate her. When the professor told me, that his friend work for the Association and handles our Kazoku boy on their behalf, I know I was in luck. And yes, Minami-chan is beautiful enough, so that the professor's friend will try to impress us with his importance and spill everything.

That boy may have said, he can't afford to take me in a private plane to shop in Paris, but the rumors about him says something else, and "the boy with the cold hard cash is always Mister Right".

Hachiman VI

As I sit and enjoy a Max Coffee and some new isekai manga, I feel a chill down my back. My danger sense is still doing overtime. What is happening, since I am so nervous?

Yukino seems to be finished, as she is now paying for a stable of books. How can that be dangerous?

She comes over, and put the books on the table, and leave for the counter of the café. I allow myself to indulge my curiosity, drag them over, and look them through. Self-help book, self-help book, self-help book, another self-help book, and one gift-wrapped. That must be the gift for Yui. And the last one: Nietzsche, no. Yukino may be a type of a loner, but not the type of a loner, who will be able to understand Nietzsche. God may be dead, but Yukino's twisted sense of honor combined with the will to power. Great Goddess spares us, misunderstanding this could turn her into a dark general.

"You like the book? I got it recommended in the store, from a man who knew my great-grandfather", I hear her voice. Busted.

I look at Yukino, as she sits down with her cup of tea and respond carefully: "I read some Nietzsche when I were younger. He is quite difficult to understand and that he is German making it even worse. There is not a German philosopher who don't use 100 pages to confuse, what could be explained clearly in 1 page".

"I have never read him, only heard about him. He was thick with nihilism and Nazism, was he not?" she asks.

Yes, there are some of the misunderstandings: "Writers, especially philosophers, are quickly misunderstood or misused, especially by those who are in power, or seek to become powers themselves. Some of them even do it themselves or change their philosophy over time. So, one must always read with great care and not be too excited.

There is a story about a famous Canadian organization theorist, who once left his ivory tower to see how his pupils had used his teaching, and the conclusion was that it was not us Japanese who had beaten the American in the industrial game at that time. It was the Americans themselves who had killed of their industry, by using his ideas wrongly.

This was of cause before the stagnation started here in Japan, and the Americans changes their scare of Japan to the Middle East instead".

Hopefully my warning would keep Yukino from misunderstanding too much. One can hope, one can dream. Fortunately, many read, few understand, and less is actually able to use it in practice. It is the last one you must watch. Everything done for the first time unleashes a demon.

Yukino VI

No doubt, that Hachiman still needs my help. That sounded like one of the essay's that got Hiratsuka-sensei to deliver Hachiman into my care. Typical boy posturing or maybe I should call it man splatting, he is after all soon a young man.

"The other books, what are they fore?" he asks.

Ups, explanation fast: "I think they can be useful, when we answer the questions, we get by mails".

"Oh, good thinking. That should reduce the time we have to use on it," he says, as he smiles.

Yes, point to me, again. He is easy that way. Everything that will result in less work for him, make him stop thinking.

Now back to my original question, why do you eat ramen with Hiratsuka-sensei often: "So the ramen we had in Kyoto with Hiratsuka-sensei was nothing new for you?".

"No, that happens from time to time. After all, she must bribe me, to ensure, that I don't report her to the authorities for her use of violence on me", he replies with a laugh.

"Oh, so you are in SM relation with her?" I ask astonished. What is going on here? Is Hiratsuka-sensei doing, what I want to do, could she give me tips? Ugh, not again. Hachiman is bad for me.

"Get your mind out of the gutter. This is not a sexual relation. This is about me getting free food from our big sister," he replies, anger starting to show up in his voice.

"Our big sister?" I prompt him.

"Yes, why did you think she put me in your club? Hiratsuka-sensei is just like our big sister. She is worried about us and wish to make it possible for us to change for something better. What she is not able to do for herself, she wishes to do for us. It is nice of her, even if it doesn't work".

"Doesn't work?": Am I turning into that computer program that was a craze some years back, which turn your last words into a question, so you can psychologize yourself?

Something seems to move inside his eyes, as he smiles at me, as he knows a secret, I don't know. What am I seeing? "No, we do not need to change to fit into society. We change the society to fit us instead".

Wait, what just happen. What did he say? Oh, it is already that time. It is time to meet Yui. It seems I must break off our game for today, but of course it is another win for me.

I quickly finish the rest of my cup and get up: "Sorry I have to leave you, but I have to go to meet Yui now".

"Merry Christmas, and give my regard to Yui too, and then we will see each other at New Year", he responds.

Maybe I should give Yui an extra present: "You are welcome to accompany me. I am going to meet Yui at Kaihin High".

"Kaihin High, why is she there?" he inquirer, clearly surprised by my statement.

I explain: "She is doing something for the Computer Club of Kaihin High. She was on a date with one of the boy's in the club and was roped in to help them with a game, they are designing".

Oh, your eyes start to show some sign of life. Did you feel something when I mentioned that she was on a date? So maybe you have some affection for her, after all, even if you refuse her. Is jalousie something that works for you? Will you also react? If I told you that I have been on a date.

And then I can also use the time to get back to my original question. Why do you eat ramen with Hiratsuka-sensei often? "So, the ramen we had in Kyoto with Hiratsuka-sensei was nothing new for you?".

Hachiman VI

Didn't she ask that question before? Is this what they call Deja Vue? "No, ramen I can eat anytime, with anyone. Especially, if I don't have to pay for it".

"Why did she then offer to take us out to ramen again, when we leave school, if it is something you do already?" she asks.

"Probably to settle our bet official, although it is meaningless. After all, I have already won, but at least you then will get ramen as a consolation prize. Be happy for that", I respond.

Suddenly she looks shaken: "What, how can you have won the bet? Never".

Oh, she hadn't realized that: "What would you ask of me if you win?".

Yukino VII

What I would ask for? You will get to lick my boot, while… Stop. Not that kind of wish. Stop the question, he is answering my question with a new question. Where has he learned to answer like a politician? "Not that easy, Hikiloser. Answer my question, before giving me one. Why have you already won the competition?".

"Because I would have you cross-play as a cat and Yui as a dog. And I have already achieved that with the march, so since I have received the reward for winning, I have already won. Unfortunately, Isshiki-san didn't come as a fox, but I still have a little more than a year to achieve that goal. And I will, even if her foxiness is strong. Her natural self will be shown to the world, so she can't hide herself anymore".

That pervert, so the rumor that the march was a cover for his fetish for furries is true. Have I lost the war by winning the battles? I thought he did it to get my attention, I thought he… Lesson to myself, know your enemy's goals before engaging in war: "Pervert Hikkie".

Hachiman VI

Truth can be hard to digest. I have never heard Yukino scream like that, or seen her face turns ashen before, not even when we tried to learn Yui to bake cakes. Hopefully, it is not the signs of a Yuki-onna preparing to kill.

"Yukinon, we are here". The sound of Yui. Saved. Yui may be willing to help Yukino to get rid of my body, but Yukino would get ashamed, if she killed me in a public place, where other would see it, since it would signal that she didn't have her feelings under control.

But what is this? Yui yes, we should meet her here. But what are the others doing here? Even the fire queen is here. All my Miko's except Rumi-chan, the fox, Minami and the "breasts". What are they doing here? And who are those boys? Stop drooling on the sidewalk, boys.

Don't tell me, that Kaori has arranged a mixer for them with those boys? Most of them looks like proud loners. Source: Myself, after all, I can recognize them by a glance, since I am the king of loners.

The tall one of them looks thus, like he is in the wrong crowd, even if his hair is orange. He is far too pretty, is he a half-blood? And the boy to the left, there is a stench of evil from him, he reminds me of someone, but who? Don't matter, I will remember it, if it is important.

Yukino is talking with Yui, I seem to be forgotten. I activate my stealth skill, none of this concerns me. Back to the café, Max Coffee and isekai is to be my bliss, until I receive my call. May the Kaihin boys have the honor, or should I say the horrors, of the company of the Sobu girls this Christmas night, but better them that me.

Kaihin Computer Club, also, known, by very few, as RE/GAIN

"Damn riajuu, flaunting his harem before us". (Why him, and not me, such an unjust world)

"Poor cat-girl, do you see, how she looks? I sure, he just has forced her to es-ee-ecks in a back alley against her will". (Oh, cat-girl in heat in the back alley. I must see her video again).

"It is wrong that she must do, what he wants, just because her mother wants to be an aristocrat, "Les aristocrates à la lanterne" (For the first time, I have understood how the world actually functions. Everything fits, like zeros and ones. Yui explain everything so easy. She is a true teacher).

"And the other poor girls. Such an injustice will be stopped, when RE/GAIN have control (and then they will date us instead).

"Such a riajuu. Riajuu should just explode" (in chorus).

Kaori III

I'm sure, I did see Hachiman, but where did he vanish off to? But then, I should not be surprised. It is a male ability to disappear whenever, there are works to do. And what is it with Yukino? She looks like she is out of order, what has Hachiman done now? Something exciting, something romantic?

The chief II

I leave the household of the Orimoto whitout damage. I consider my visit a win. The daughter was a goldmine of information regarding the boy. Claiming he was just a colleague. Oh, girl, continue to tell yourself that lie. But that is good. Your mother will now be on her guard at New Year. One can never be careful enough when one plays the game.

Ah, the life we had here in Chiba, playing the game, which goods and soldiers transported through the harbor to Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia? Who is a spy, a counterspy, a double agent or a triple agent? False flag operations, secret deals and bodies to bury.

Maybe he is home? He was so strong and so handsome in his leather, then. A wish upon a star worth, but unfortunately not with the necessary clearance level.

Of mouse, man and cat

Mouse

Guarding the access to Angel Ladder Café is not a job with any prestige, but as a young brother, it is my job on Christmas night, so the older brothers can hang out with girls. Hopefully there will be no problems tonight.

"Ding". The elevator door open.

I fix my suit. It does not fit perfectly, but a better one must wait until I have made the Yen. Then I will buy a Burberry and invite the cat-girl out.

I look upon the guest to make the official greeting. What, no guest, and why is there a cat here? Does the hotel have a cat to ensure that are not any mouse and rats in the building? It must be quite a smart cat, since it can find out to use the elevator. Several of my classmates would probably fail to do that.

But nothing in the rules against a cat being here. I have read the rules very carefully. It always pays to know the rules. It gives you one up on the authorities. I open the door to the bar.

Kamakura

I leave the place, where humans gather to lose their senses. My work here is done, but still I have some work to do this Christmas night, before I can get my well-deserved rest. It is a long shot, but if an heir is to be ensured today, truth must be heard from drunk people.

I walk through the door, where the young servant waits for me. He quickly understands my order and call the elevator. I look him over; before entering. He reminds me of a mouse, but he is young and trainable. I feel generous on this night which celebrate love, and I need some assistance with all that work, the heir is giving me. Work is sabotaging my naptime. To work is to lose. I will recommend this mouse for the honor to serve a higher race.

Haruno

I receive my call. My signal to go. I know she will also call him. I smile at the young man I am accompanying to the charity event today. A son of one of my father's business connections. "Sorry, I have to leave. It seems one of my girlfriends have gotten herself into a mess, and I must go save her. It is unfortunate what can happen at Christmas night".

He looks at me, asking: "It is something I can help you with?".

Nice guy, but also a very boring guy. He has done nothing but talk about steel under the dinner: "No, thank you. It is a girl matter. Do you know Ichika-san? She is a real talented artist and do a lot of figures in metal".

I wave the girl, I have ensured to be here, to come and replace me.

As I leave, Ichika is already serving him sake. Don't say I don't do anything for others. I can be quite friendly – to the right kind of people, and Ichika is talented, but without the connections or the money to make it in the world of art. Hopefully she will not ask me to become her maid of honor. Weddings are a bore.

Hachiman

My phone goes bip, and I am torn out of the magic world, I have spent the last hours in. My invitation for ramen has arrived. But why does she want me to meet her there. It is such a posh place.

Mouse II

Ding. The elevator door open. I look, I bow, and I open the door to the bar.

Ding. The elevator door open. I look, I bow, and I open the door to the bar.

Ding. The elevator door open. I look, I bow deeply, hit the button to signal, that a VIP has arrived, and open the door to the bar.

"Stupid boy, why did you lock that boy dressed like that in and you even pressed the VIP button? He should not have been allowed in that clothes, and he went straight to disturb Yukinoshita-sama at the bar. I am going to tell the older brothers, what you have done" the headwaiter yells, as he put his face into mine.

I smile politely and whisper into his ear: "So where the mother failed with her younger daughter, she now tries to rise by using the charm of her older daughter, and for your information, the Yukinoshita is not to be addressed with sama. Their line is not old enough for that honor to be used".

"What are you saying? Are you crazy?", the headwaiter continues to yell in my face, his face now turning blue.

"The boy who entered is Abe-no Sama, whose ancestor is a God. The order is that Abe-no Sama must be treated like the oyabun. But maybe you didn't get the memo? I am sure the older brothers would like to hear, how you speak about the owner of Chiba" I reply softly, while my smile grows.

Something of what I said, he must have understood, as he quickly withdraws from my face and start bowing to me, shaking: "No, no, I understand now, sorry. I am sorry. No reason to talk to the older brothers about this, please. I will send something good out to you, to compensate you for your hard work, please".

I keep my smile on, as he bows to me again. I then return his bow. He leaves. So many people with a little bit of power, thinking they are important. Be polite, smile and then enjoy it, when they burn themselves.

I turn around, check my suit and wait.

Ding. The elevator door open. I look, I bow, and I open the door to the bar.

Hachiman

I remember it as more difficult to get in here before. They must have lowered their standards.

And Yukino didn't pay for me, when we were here. That club activity did cost me a lot of Yen, and, what is it she is named? didn't even give me a discount, despite the fact, that we are classmates. How they treat me.

But priest needs food, so where are that teacher of mine? I look around and identifies a woman with long black hair. Sitting by the bar and already looking sloshed. Right, burned badly. But that's not the problem. The problem is the women next to her with short dark hair. What is the demon doing here? Is this some form of karma, great Goddess? I get the time to read some manga and now I must pay the piper?

I slip in on the bar chair beside Shizuka-sensei, that at least keep her between me and the demon. Unfortunately, she seems out of it, mumbling, while squeezing a glass with some sort of dark liquid in it: "I am cursed, cursed, the old lady is right. I am cursed".

I look at the demon. She responds by pushing her mobile down the bar to me. It shows "Breaking news. Policeman saves famous idol from stalker. Idol vows to marry her savior".

Right, that does seem odd, my teacher has the worst luck, but coincidence happens.

The waiter is looking at us, as there is something wrong. Do we look that weird? An older man comes and say something to the waiter, sending him away. Then the older man addresses me "It is an honor for us to be allowed to serve you, Abe no sama. What is your wish?".

Well, he is greasing it thickly. They must be doing really bad, if they speak like that to get tips: "Some coffee, please, very sweet".

"One moment, Abe no sama" he says, bows and then start brewing some coffee. Why do Haruno looks so irritated? What have I done now?

"How in hell? Do you know that he is the most uppity waiter in the town, and he treats you as you are the emperor" Haruno snaps: "This is so unfair. Mother is madder at you, that I or Yukino-chan have ever been able to make her, father is so pleased by your actions, and you have turned sister into a national sex-symbol. Why haven't you done anything for me, Abe no SAMA?". I hear the sound of her glass being knocked down in the bar. The other waiter returns and fill it.

I look sideways at her, showing a degree of pity: "Your karma is bad. Welcome in the group". What, do I now have sympathy for the devil?

A cup of coffee is placed before, there is cream and some cacao on the top: "Your French coffee, Abe no Sama, please enjoy". I nod to the waiter as thanks. I have never had French coffee before, but it looks very sweet and smell delicious. I take a sip. It also tastes good. Life is bitter, so coffee should at least be sweet. Maybe I will give a tip, when we leave.

"Your karma is bad? Please, you are living the dream of every teenage boy in the world, surrounded by a harem of beauties every day" Haruno continues her tirade.

I turn to the side, leaning against the bar, enjoying a darn good cup of coffee, looks over the still muttering body of my homeroom teacher at Haruno, and ask with a sigh: "You mean the number of violent women, who subject me to physical and/or mentally harm every day?".

"Well, that is necessary, that's how we change a male from a boy to a man. It is hard work, especially with you, who are totally clueless" Haruno quip, now suddenly sporting an evil smile. Her combat instinct seems to have been activated. She is just like her sister, just a bit prettier and a more evil version, even if her hair is short. Has my fascination with Yukino given me a hair-fetish? But my angel would not look good with long hair. That would change my angel, and perfection should as the only object not be changed, since something perfect can't be more perfect. I am a man of logic. She has not given me a long hair-fetish. It's just the fact that girls in my eyes look better with long hair.

"Oh, so it's all of you, and not only the girls I know. The world just makes more sense now" I reply sardonically: "Yuigahama-san assaults me in public in order to abuse my body, and your sister wants to drag me down in a cellar to put me in chains and whip me. What is your fetish?".

While Haruno chews on my statement, I drink the last of my coffee. It is fortunately replaced with a new one, as soon as I place it back on the bar. They really do their best to sell.

"Playing with men, I think. Most of you are so easy and boring. At least you give me some fun from time to time" Haruno respond, sounding a bit sad. No, no sympathy with the devil. And also, down with you. A girl telling you, that you are a bit interesting do not mean that.

"You don't understand, what it means to be a grown-up. You give up on a lot of things. Freedom, hope, the right to choose for yourself" Haruno complains. She must be deep in her cup, since she does nothing but complaining, instead of playing with me as usual. So Haruno can get drunk. But better a drunk devil than a playing devil.

"Now they want me to marry Hayato-kun, just because our mothers are beastie and our fathers are business partners, so he can help me running the company, when the time comes. It will make for such a wonderful dinner-table, fuck me" Haruno says, as she throws the drink into her mouth, and slam the glass down in the bar. The glass is refilled quickly.

Yes, thank you. No, actually, what it is she is saying: "You are to marry the great fake? Now, you have my sympathy". I raise my cup in honor of her and empty it. I put it down. It is quickly replaced with a new one. I like the service here.

"The fake. That is a good name for him. Is it my sister, who call him that?" Haruno return, while getting her glass.

"Nope, my own production. Everything he does is false; he is a mask carrying a mask, refusing to do anything in order to retain status que, so I call him a fake" I explain.

"You do know the story about what the fake did to my sister" Haruno ask.

"Failed to help her, when she was bullied, yes" I reply.

"As if that was the problem. It may be, what Yukino-chan tells people. The truth is much worse. No, she fell in love with him the summer before high school and granted him her heart and virginity, thinking that he would marry him, as our parents had planned. But the very next day he gave it away. She saw him entering a love hotel with another girl. Never mix love with marriage in business, never trust a man" Haruno started to yell, as she slammed the now empty glass back on the bar.

Her yelling woke our companion: "Yes, never trust a man. They are all bastards, and I am the one cursed to meet them all. I am cursed, just like the old lady on the mountain said".

The old lady on the mountain, don't tell me that Sensei have met the witch: "So you have met the witch, the lady of the left side of the mountain. She does know a bit about curses. According to the village rumors my grandfather and she had a thriving business. She curses people for money. My grandfather then took the cursed people's money for cleansing them".

"Yes, she said, my aura is spotted like a leopard, and that you should be able to remove it" as Sensei raise herself up from the bar and turn to my side: "Please cleanse me".

I look at her, what is she talking about. Don't tell me, that Sensei believes that: "Sorry, you have to wait until I have taken my degree, and then I probably have to train for some years with land and animals, before I am allowed to do rituals for people".

"No, do it now, or I will never get married", Sensei yells.

"I will marry you, if you can wait for me" I offer.

Sensei looks me over, and then shake her head: "That is nice of you, but you have nothing of that, I want from a man".

Hey, here I am offering, and now you say I am not a man, my revenge will be great: "All right then, but the consequence is on you and you will pay for two sets of ramen to me. This shit always leaves me hungry". I hit her on the head, and scream: "Evil, in the name of Inari Okami, begone".

The light goes out, and Sensei's head is in my lap. Oops, did I hit her too hard? Fortunately, as it is dark, I can quickly place her head back on the bar. It would not be good if someone had a picture of us with her head there. That will quickly be misunderstood, and I appreciate being alive.

"Please, be calm, this is not an earthquake. A fuse must have been sprung" a voice says. Soon after the light return. I see Haruno look speculatively at me: "Do this happens every time you do priest business?".

Before I can answer, the nice waiter returns: "So sorry about that, Abe no sama. Please accept these new drinks as a small compensation for your trouble. The management is very sorry, that it has happened. It must be all the Christmas decoration, who is overloading the power cops.

"So, can you do the same for me, solve my problem with the fake here and now?" Haruna asks.

Another one. When do they learn? "Yes, but you must take responsibility for it. That would be a blessing, not a cleansing. And in return you must pay the bill. Last time I was here, your sister didn't pay for me".

"What, we are the women. We expect you to pay for us" Haruno returns with a laugh.

"I am not courting, and you must pay for services delivered. The Goddess favor does not come cheap" I quip.

"So, you do not want my body as payment. I am disappointed. There are a lot of men who would like to get their hands on this. Am I too old for you?" Haruno ask, as she is leaning forward to me, over Sensei's body. Ups, that view is alluring. Black lace on that very well-worn bra. Down boy.

As I hit her on the head, I say: "No, but it would not be genuine, if I did it for your body. In the name of Inari Okami, bless this woman with luck". The light goes out again. This is getting annoying.

I take my coffee from the bar and drink it. Hopefully they will get ready quickly. Priest now need food badly.

Mouse III

As the sama and his two girls prepare to leave, 10.000 yens arrive with the elevator to take the next shift.

We both bow, as they leave. They seem quite wasted. Just what has the headwaiter served them?

I then say goodbye to 10.000 yen, wishing him a good night. Then I leave with the bottle of sake, I received from the café for my good work. I know just who to give it. As the great book says one cannot have too many friends.

That I am the son of the Rat gives me some protection, so I got through my unofficial admission ceremony with only a kick in my ass, when I passed out from sake, and got the name Mouse, but poor 10.000 yen. He woke up in the park, with his pants around his knees, a sore red bottom, and a note saying thank you for a good night together with a fanghuang note. The older brother's say's with laughter, that his scream could be heard far away.

The older brothers can be very devious. So, he got the name 10.000 yen. He will never get rid of it, even if he gets to be the oyabun one day.

As I get down, I see two men in salary uniform trying to harass the sama and the girls. Fortunately, the two men are very drunk. I move quickly and hit them in their stomachs. They collapse onto the street and start to vomit. I quickly turn them and ensure; they can't kill themselves. That would be bad for business.

I then bow to the sama and his girls: "The management is very sorry that this has happened. Please excuse it".

They look rather stunned by my action. The oldest of the girl starts to laugh: "You are good. But that means I don't get to punch them. Then I must punch you instead, Hachiman".

"Please. no, that will hurt my stomach, and reduce my enjoyment of the ramen", the sama begs. Is that fear in his eyes? But it does not look as he feared being hit. Does he fear for his food that much?

"It will be delayed. We will go eat ramen with the panda. I have tickets to Destinyland. I won them at an afterparty at a wedding. I won two times, so 4 tickets to be used by couples. They said I could go alone twice; those bastards" the girl says. Then she turned to me. "So young man, you have a mean hook. Do you want to escort us gorgeous girls to the place, where pandas' battles for love?".

They are both very beautiful, especially the sister. How would she look in a cat-suit? But that kind of thinking is a bad strategy. Dating two sisters at the same time will only give me problems. One of the few of the brotherhood, who had a name change was Nuts. He got his name after the sisters, he dated at the same time, found out what he did, and then took his nuts: "I am honored by the offer of such a beauty as you, but unfortunately I am forced by duty to decline. Please forgive your servant, noble lady".

"Sniff, another man just refused me. It seems your curse breaking didn't work, Hachiman-san" the women said.

"I told you, but you didn't believe me. You must wait until I have taken my degree, before I can remove any curses" the sama replies.

"At least he is polite, Shizuka-chan. That is more than many today. Hachiman-kun, you should learn from him" the older sister says.

"Now you sound just like your sister, Save the world. Please, the ramen" the sama complained. Is he a kind of a food addict?

They start to leave. The older sister blows me a kiss as goodbye as she joins her girlfriend. Yes, she will also look good in a cat-suit. I nearly regretted my choice, but I have work to do. Duty before fun.

I draw the two guys into a side alley, so they don't pollute the area. One of them has a small briefcase attached to his wrist. The logo. The older brothers discourage that the guests have their belonging stolen, since it will reduce the chance of repeating customers, but one must take gambles to win. I get my knife out.

Kamakura II

I look upon the mess. Another fine mess. The two men I had befuddle had not created the situation, I had hoped for. The heir had not become the hero in the eyes of the two women, so they would be more inclined to him. It cannot be helped. I have other mice to catch this night, or rather fish this time. At least my evaluation of the servant is confirmed. He had moved without hesitation, when he saw the situation.

The chief

Should old friendships be forgotten plays in the background. This day has turned quite nostalgic. This hole had been old, when we did business. The paint is still as off putting as then and the smell of ammonia just as pervasive, making it easy to get rid of blood and other body fluids due to the business transaction typically been made here.

The silence is also well known. No reason to chit chat between old friends. Just enjoying the sake, and the sound of tiles being placed and calls, as we play. He is just as bad as ever. The two other players are a bit better, but I am sure, that I will win.

A boy comes in and bow to my old friend: "Older brother, I bring a gift" and deposit a bottle of sake on the table. Then the boy bows again and leave. Interesting, not at least the briefcase he also had. The Ministry of foreign affairs has boasted quite a bit about their deal with Sony to get their newest laptop in an upgrade design for free in return for impressing foreign dignities.

But I have not received any alert of a state computer with sensitive information on it has been stolen, and if I get such a report later. Well, something like this will make the Ministry of foreign affairs look bad, while a quick recovery of the computer will make the Agency look good, and the budget fight for the next year starts as soon as the New Year holiday is over. No rest for the wicked.

"The boy, he looked familiar, who was he"? I ask.

"Oh, he is the son of the Rat. You remember him?" my old friend reply.

"Yeah, he was not much of a fighter. So, he managed to get married?", I respond.

"One of the girls down from the club. But she ran off later with a salary man. Their salary may not be better, but it comes every month. Such is life". Silence return, as we return our attention to the game.

Destinyland

Kaori

As we are moving up, I think about my lesson. His girls seemed to be happy with my lecture about the basic rules of the law of love: A crow will seek a mate and opposite attracts. The new girls were an additional reward for my work to spread the message of Eros. So many losers in the game of love need my help. But my colleague should stop expanding his harem. The harem is maybe every boy's dream, but they only work in fantasy. A harem in the real world is a symbol of political alliances, economic survival and status. Not anything genuine.

But maybe it was the free pass to the entertainment, which make them happy, as they spread out to enjoy Destinyland's offers. Fortunately, I have been able to ensure that we will get a good view of the new entertainment at the fireworks. To see the principles at work will hopefully learn them something about taking chances. Maybe even one of them will gain the courage to actually ask him through this.

Ahhh, this roller coaster is too much excitement, ahhhh.

Hachiman

Lesson: No drinking and driving. Sensei's driving was bad enough in advance. That we survived the trip must be a miracle ordained by Inari Okami, together with the fact, we haven't been stopped by the police. Maybe they also fear sensei?

As we enter the gates, there is an advertisement for a new amusement: "The moment of your destiny. Battel for your love and become the hero for all to see. Be at the plaza to see the fireworks" and then with small signs: "By entering the plaza you waive all rights, Destinyland have the right to use the material…". Right, the usual bullshit. Push the button to accept your selling of your soul and your first born to the gods of evil.

Where is the important stuff, the overview of ramen stands?

Security

"Sir, we have facial recognition. Abe no sama is a guest tonight" the jonin report.

"Very well, report it to HQ. He is after all, the largest minority shareholder in the company. Do we have a kunoichi available to shadow him? Less risk if he is watched by a female. His psychiatric report says he is weak to female persuasion, if that should be necessary" the chunin instructed.

"Are we all not that" the jonin joke.

"Some less than other" the chunin replies sternly.

"What if Abe no sama gets caught in the new entertainment tonight?" the jonin asks.

"It is the will of our employer. If is backfire on them, it is their problem" the chunin respond.

"And the spell?" the jonin continue.

"According to HQ, spells do not exist, so they would not pay for its removal according to the contract. That the client is a fool, does not matter, as long it does not jeopardize our mission, and the spell seems to have no direct physical effect on the customers' psychical health" the chunin lectured.

Hachiman II

That was fulfilling, and quite good. A bit too much bamboo shoots added to the meal, but what can you expect of a place, who has a panda as a mascot. Maybe I ate too much, a girl had looked rather repulsed by the amount I had eaten. But free food and my starving body are a match made in heaven. I am a monster of logic. Priest is now feed.

"Hachiman-san, we are going to the plaza to see the new entertainment" sensei commands me.

Oh, it is already this late. I get down from my stool.

I wobble to the plaza. The demon and sensei talking about something nonsense about the new amusement. As we enter the plaza, I feel the hair on my body get up. It is because of static electricity from the many large screens which surround the plaza, either placed on the building or on a tripod?

Maybe it is to enchant the experience of the firework? Then the best place must be in the middle.

Il principal

What do my eyes see? The young lord with Shizukan-chan and Haruno. My escort idea to let us be entertained by coming here on this night of love gives unexpected rewards. My lady this night is so easily entertained, but that is a blessing itself. My age being what it is these days.

But why does he stand in the middle of the spell? Does he know what it does?

And the beautiful symphony of spells on Shizukan-chan is gone. Her aura is cleansed. A pity.

And my little lost snowflake, so like her mother at that time, now carries a blessing. He may be an Abe no and have a lay line to sustain him. But now two running blessings and he must also have broken Shizukan-chan curse this night. The amount of energy. If it were me, I would be lying prostrate in bed or dead. How does he do it?

But since he dares to stand there, the spell may have a positive area effect. I do feel the intent of the spell, but nothing tastes rotten – in the state of Denmark. Where you do not gamble, you do not win. I take the hand of my lady and put us behind them. Please, young master, entertain me.

Oh, are they here to watch them? My son and the fox of Abe no. Son do be careful. A fox is the best bride a man can dream about, but if you fail in your duty, the consequence is dire. Fortunately, the spell on you to avoid young girls stills seems to work in that way you stand next to her. You were so wild before, instinctively seeking the boost in power, you gain by taking their virginities. I could not allow you to do that at my school.

When you get old enough, I will compensate you for it. Maybe a scroll of tantra yoga exercises. You will need that, if you do marry a fox.

Iroha

On this night of romance and love. What do I see? My other boytoy is here too. Maybe this will make my escort jealous. If they fight about me, it is alright.

As the fireworks start, I raise myself on my heels, my boots helping me to look into his eyes. I like he is tall. That makes him even more handsome.

I smile at my date. This is the right time and place. I ask the question: "Can I be your girlfriend?".

He looks at me as my question has made him sad: "Yes, I am sorry".

Yes, of course. I am after all irresistible. I kiss him. But why is he sorry, that he says yes. Is it because he is a young human, and he instinctively knows, that he is far beneath me? That does not matter, love is love, and transcended class, race and ages.

Hachiman III

The sound of the "yes" and my so called cute kohai kissing the fake is show to us all on the screens. The scene on the screen's then changes, showing other couples and the sounds of yes and no echoes over the plaza.

The fox has been really foxy this night. She has managed to steal the fake from the fire. Oh, fox, you better watch the fire.

But for once you work to my benefit. The fake has publicly acknowledged to change status qua. You have just made my blessing of Haruno a reality.

Maybe I can use this to get Haruno to pay for me another time? She does owe me for all that time she has been playing with me to entertain herself. Although I do also enjoy the view of her – a bit too much. That bra. Down boy.

What are those screens now showing? No. Komachi and the bug. No, that is not possible.

Taishi
I look into her eyes. The fireworks reflex in them. She is so beautiful. The time to act is now: "Hikigaya, no Komachi-chan, I like you, a lot. Will you be my girlfriend?" I lean forward to kiss her.

Komachi
This is so romantic. This is so romantic. The firework, he is so handsome, and he is asking me, if I will be his one and only. My first kiss. Of course, my answer can only be.

Hachiman IV

No, no, no. "No". Yes, of course, my little sister says no to that bug. My little sister is the world's best little sister. Suffer bug suffer.

Komachi II

Wait, I meant yes, what just happened? He looks so disappointed, and he stops moving his face against me. This is not what I wanted, my first kiss, the perfect moment, SCRAMBEL:

"If you get into Sobu, you can ask me again", I say. He starts to smile. I managed to save something.

Harem-girls

"What?" (How could he do that, when he has refused me all the time? I, the only one who knew that only by not giving him what he wants, can he be hold. She is probably not even a virgin like me. I am going to, what am I going to do?).

"That I do not believe, even if I have just seen it" (Poor Yumiko, she must be devastated).

"Oh" (What a plot twist. The girl seduces the boy before the eyes of the boy, the boy loves. Yes. What kind of prince is our president? We do need new characters).

"Oh no" (Another one has fallen to him. That bastard. Do not enter a love hotel with him).

"I really don't know who of them, I feel most sorry for" (Suffer. Now you will know what it is to suffer, when your heart is ripped out of you. She will leave you quickly. Behind her cute face is only greed. You will never be able to satisfy her).

"As you see, the right place is important for the question" (Well, the girl with the 1.000-watt smile did have something this night to do. I applaud you for your effort. I think I will write about this tomorrow on the website. It will be a good lesson. Oh, and that one too).

"Brother" (No, why did she do that? That is not fair, he has done everything he should do. Oh, except that).

Il principal II

I look at the image of the young Hikigaya, as she states her requirement. That is the correct way to motivate him and also good advertising for my school. I think I just found my next president, when the fox retires to concentrate on her exam in her third year.

But why do, dear Shizuka-chan now roll around on the ground? That is not the behavior I expect of a teacher of my school. Shame on you. I better stop it.

Shizuka

The no and yes is hissing around my ears. This is too much. I fall to the ground. I have heard those words before, always the wrong answer has been to me.

Someone reaches out a hand to me. I grab it. I ask the question: "Will you marry me?".

"No. I am afraid, I am far too old for you, Hiratsuka-san, but if it should have your interest, I do have a young teacher in my family. He is a bit too handsome for his own good, and his outdoor activities, well, let us say, a bit reckless. The family would like if he got somewhat more grounded. I think you would be a good match for him. Would an omiai have your interest?"

I know that calming voice. What is it doing here? I look up, this is embarrassing.

"Yes". What, why, that was not my answer.

Hachiman VI

I look at sensei and the principal. That was nice of him, even if I thought sensei would refuse such an offer. But who is standing beside the principal? The women remind me of. Oh, that explains much regarding Yui's presence in Sobu. Everything has an explanation. I am indeed a monster of logic. Well, old men also have the right to love. Hopefully Hina do not know this, it would shatter her illusions about the great love story of Sobu.

Haruno

What has just happened? How does he do this? My coming engagement has just been postponed for some time by this public spectacle. And Shizuka-chan has an omiai. Don't tell me, that he actually has power. It is not possible. It is not, is it?

Security II

"Report" the chunin commanded, as soon, as the young kunoichi entered the security staff room.

"Yes, chunin. He discovered me quickly but ignored me. He knew of the spell, since he placed himself in the middle of it. He was laughing a lot and was very pleased by the fact that his fox got her target. Worth to mention is that the senior Magnus of Chiba also was present, he was very subservient to Abe no sama. They have all left now, with the closing of the park" the young girl reported.

The chunin waves the kunoichi away: "Very well. Exercise your ability to move unobserved".

The night had gone well, all in all. Good advertisement available to show, from those who had found love this night, even if it was less than expected, but it had been the right kind, who said yes. He was handsome and she was cute, and the image of the girl making a demand from her suitor. That showed responsibility. Their client would be happy, and maybe it would bring more customers to the park.

It was not easy for a ninja clan to live in these days and time. Abe no sama, yes. Yes. That could be a solution. Their kunoichi was not that bad looking and he did own a lot of stock in the company. He could block any idea about closing the park down. Then pandas would continue to fight for love, and so the clan would live.

Hachiman VII

I get nervous as we arrive back at the car. One thing is sensei driving again. Another thing is the motorbike with the police signs on it next to her car, and a big man in leather standing next to the motorbike. A very big man.

But sensei got a smile as bright, I have even seen on her, as she sees him: "Oh, I thought you were busy saving an idol – and marrying her".

The man smiled in return: "Sorry, but would you believe the paperwork an idol generates? Please forgive me for being late".

"So, you are not marrying her?" sensei asks, as she moves closer to him.

"Well, she is a pretty girl, but not a beautiful woman like you". Respect, I may learn something about being smooth from this guy.

Sensei moves a finger run down his breast: "And how did you know we were here?"

"Well, your car is known by all of us. We do stop you from time to time," he jokes. You do mean every time she drives a car? Or not. You are all probably just as scared of her, as we pupils are.

"Well, then I think I will forgive you, if you give me a ride….- on your bike".

The man is quick to get another helmet from a bag on his bike. He must be a real scout. Always prepared.

As they are ready to leave, sensei throws her keys to the demon with a grin: "Now Haruno-chan, don't do what I will do. Hachiman is not legal in Chiba". The demon catches the key and reply with a laugh: "Maybe not in the greater Tokyo, but there are other places in Japan, we could drive to, where he is quite legal". Right, now I know the playing demon again.

I look at sensei and the cop leaving. Yes, of course. The siren and light are on. You are a weak man, even if you are a smooth cop.

I turn and look at the demon, who is bow smiling. Her devil smile is worse than the fox smile of innocence. I can see it, your plan: Women, car, her bra A night of love: "Forget it. I have a prediction: Train". I start to turn.

The devil seems for a second like she will protest, but drop it, and starts to follow me, as I walk toward the station.

I see a small crowd. It must have gathered to see the sight of sensei corrupting an innocent cop. But why are all the girls there? Were they not out karaokiing? But they all look just as surprised, as I feel. I totally understand. Sensei leaving with a guy. The pigs are going to fly. I raise my hand in greeting.

Haruno II

What, that boy is impossible. I just offered him the chance young men in Chiba dreams about. Alone with me on Christmas night.

Well, two can play the game. I start to follow him. You will suffer for this. He stops and raise his hand. No, that is not possible. How does he do it? His harem, including little sister, is standing there watching us. The coincidences, the coincidences are impossible. To lose before my sister, never.

I get up to him, and grab his right arm, as he lowers it and start to drag him past his harem, toward the station. I whisper: "What are you playing at?".

He smiles at me: "That you show me cracks in the mask you carry, do not mean, that I believe, what you show me. I fear you, because I know that you are so very skilled in hiding your true self. Now fear is genuine, but it is not what a healthy relationship can be built on. Both of you are the product of your genes, your family, your history and the rules of our society. If you want to escape, that you must first reshape the conditions, that binds you. Your sister at least tries, do you?".

What is he saying, he can't mean that? "What?"

"Like mother so daugher, like father so daughter," he replies.

I look into his face; his eyes, they are glittering with laughter in the night. Nobody has ever dared to speak like that to me. I should punish him, but how? Before he was so easy to manipulate. But now, subterfuge is my only weapon, all others lost to his new status in society. I lean against his shoulder and start to list, what we could have done, as we get into the station. At least he still gets red in his face as he hears my suggestions. Suffer boy, suffer. May your balls turn blue.

Yukino

Why is my sister here? And what is she trying to do? The sexual banter, then grabbing his arm, when he refused, now clinging to him and speaking in a low voice to him. Is that not some kind of dominion game? Does she fear us, does she fear me? Sister fears me. Actually, that is a nice thought. I am no longer just someone who follows you. I am passing you by. Are you now me, and I am you, in the waterslide of life, love and society?

Train

Hachiman

At last the train is somewhat peaceful, after Yukino has taken over her sister. Does that mean I owe her one, now? Or is she doing that out of family piety, and not to help me. This karma business is not easy to calculate.

Meanwhile Yui and Hina is trying to comfort Yumiko, while Kaori seems to be in a deep talk with what her name?

"The train will soon arrive at Kaihin-Makuhari. Kaihin-Makuhari". We started to get ready to go off. It will be good to get home. I am exhausted and it feels like a headache is approaching. I am going to sleep in tomorrow, and not going to the club.

But then Yumiko grabs my arm, and say's something dreadful: "You owe me, so you are so going to help me with this". What do I owe you?

I hear in the noise of the train stopping the voice of Yui: "Yeah, that might be better", and faster than Kamakura can empty a bowl of shrimps, the others are off, and the train continues, with me and the fire queen, alone in the wagon. Where did all the other passengers go? Cowards. No. Do not burn me. Please great Goddess help me. Somebody help me. Anybody?

Yumiko

I hold him fast, as the others get off, and the train continues. Then I look into his eyes, and ask the question: "Hikio, did you have anything to do with what she did this night? You better take responsibility, if you have".

He first looks confused, but then his eyes start to shine, why are they doing that? And his pupils, they are too big. Is he on something? "Everything and nothing. The fox moves to her own tune, but she is bound to serve the temple to pay for the cost of her first tail. And don't call me Hikio. I am Abe no sama. Use the honorifics, which are suitable for us, young lady. Good manners are the sign of good breeding, and you should wear less make-up. That is the sign of the trollop".

What is happening. He has never behaved like this. It is as, as Hikio, or? Oh, he continues: "What is there to be sorry for? You should be happy. Let the fox take him and carry the burden of protecting this useless young magnus. He will leave her, when he had gained sufficient power".

I get mad: "What. You have no right to say such things. Hayato-kun is doing his best in his circumstances. Everybody just sees him as some kind of meat, they can use to satisfy their ego with. Nobody loves him as I do".

"Nonsense, young lady. He seeks power as all of our kind do. When he has gained enough, he will seek out his father and kill him to take the family crest. Might is the only rule of succession, when a son does not have the right of inheritance" Hikio proclaimed.

"Hikio, you make no sense. Are you on something? Have you dragged Yui into something?" I scream into his face, as I hit him.

"Young lady. That you show concern for your friends is a good thing, but as a Miko of the temple a certain decorum is expected of you. At any time. Sit", Hikio's responds to my outburst. Then I realize, I am sitting down on the floor.

"Now, young lady. Let us speak clearly. My grandson is weak and unskilled. You carry the element of fire in you, the sign of the western dragon. That would be a good addition to my family abilities. Now tell me everything about your family. Who are you? What are you?".

Do Hikio have some kind of schizophrenia? No, I fell this man's intention. It is as something corrupted and foul is invading me. Leaving me defenseless. No, I am not weak, I am the queen. Miko, yes. Ebina-chan playing around, as we try out our Miko costumes. Ebina proudly showing me her drawings of her new manga Yokai Guardians, protectors of harmony, and the way to battle evil. I marshal my will, raise my hand, and then hit Hikio in the head again, this time screaming: "Evil, in the name of Inari Okami, begone".

Hikio slump backs as I hit him. His body seems lifeless. I quickly check him. No, he is alive, even if his pulse is low. I sit down on the seat next to him and then take his hand in mine, following his pulse. Sometimes I do learn something from my parents, even if I never want to be a doctor like them.

"You really are something" a voice says around me: "Good, I expect much of my Miko's. And regardless of his nature, my descendent is right. You fire, your strength and your caring nature would be a boon to our family. You have many of the qualities, he lacks and maybe you can find something genuine together? Please consider it".

"The train will soon arrive at Kaihin-Makuhari. Kaihin-Makuhari". What? What happened? Oh, why am I sitting with Hikio's hand in mine, while he is sleeping, and why is that women smiling at me. No, this is a misunderstanding. I remove my hand, and push him on his shoulder: "Hikio, we are at your station. You should get off".

Hikio looks confused at me as he takes his leave. Don't ask me, what happened. Why were we in such a position? Hopefully no one will get to know about it.

Homecomings

Yukino

We got home. My sister may be a bit under the weather, but she is still better than me with directions. I bid her goodnight and she tumbles into my guest room. She can get her sock tomorrow. But what does she mean, when she says, that we may be forced to do a combo to have a fighting chance in the game? Has sister started to play a game on her phone, and need me to link up with her to get extra resources? Everyone knows it is just a way to lure in new customers. Sister should know that.

Hachiman

As I at last get home, everything is silent and dark. My parents have probably retired to the bed early and is now asleep, hopefully. I activate my stealth ability, and get up to my room, close my door and turn on my computer and then take my cloth off. Where had the devil all that knowledge from? Some of it, should not even be physically possible. I sit down in my chair and open the folder.

Why is my little friend so blue? And then there is the headache. Why must I suffer so, great Goddess? Is it karma for all my bullshitting today, even if two requests to me were fulfilled this night? Or are you sorry for the fate of the fake? Even I can be moved to be sorry for the fake because of this, no. I am bullshitting again. The fake attacked me, when I saved that useless girl. Suffer, fake. Suffer.

Komachi

As I get home, it is late. I wave to Taishi-kun, as I enter and close the door to him. He had escorted me home and seems to have accepted my condition. I even allowed him to stand close to me in the train, and we got of a station too early, so we had some more time together by walking. My date may have not been as romantic as possible, but a lot of excitement. Maybe I should put a review of it on the site tomorrow.

As I quietly pass the door to my brother's room, I see that his door it is slightly open, and the light of his monitor is on. I look quickly inside.

I remove my eyes fast. Brother remember to lock the door, when you do that. Brother, you owe me so many points for my suffering. But boys be, and I must be realistic, Taishi-kun is probably going to do the same, when he gets home. But hopefully not to that movie. I will never be as beautiful as her. Would Taishi-kun like it, if I dressed like that?

Maybe I should compensate myself a bit for all this. Getting the older numbers of "Boys of Sobu" had hit my savings hard. Fortunately, I expect my capital to be increased by a lot at New Year. Mother is already in a particularly good mood, and after this Christmas Night. Maybe I even can get enough to buy a new dress. I get into my room, close the door and then lock it. That it is how is should be done brother. I hope you remember to air your room before going to bed. I get my stash out. Oh, my prince.

Hyousuke

As the ikeman leaves her, I close down my feed. Not a kiss, very good, even if the bastard had used the excuse of the train's movement to press his body against her. Dirty bastard.

I don't know how my ally ensured the victory tonight. But the next step is mine. How do I ensure, that he never gets into Sobu?

Sobu High is, also, well known for their very good security system in our circles. Only three access points between their intern administration system and their public system for pupils. Their computer central, and then the vice-principal and the principal's personal computers.

Maybe someone in the club can help me? I must go there tomorrow anyway.

So, they do as expected?

Haruno

My face in the mirror doesn't look good and the pounding in my head. How in the world did I get here? And I, who never get drunk. That part of me, that stays calm and collected, obvious left the meeting, before the rest of us.

What is it with Hachiman? He is always so nervous, but this night. He even made me pay for the night, and I am the girl. What is it with those eyes? What did actually happen this night? Shizuka-chan got her date, and my problem with Hayato solved for now. This should at least give me breathing room for the next month or two.

But the things Hachiman says, the things he especial says about sister. Is sister so much like father? I have always been envious of sister's freedom, and her will to deny mother.

Am I more my mother than my father, while Yukino-chan is more father than mother?

No, no. I am not my mother, never. How can you say that? I hit the face in the mirror, that is me. It breaks and I see the cracks in my mask. Would you like me if I actually showed you the genuine me? But we are so cold, I am so cold. How could anyone ever love someone so cold? Could I even love, for love? Or be genuine enough to be loved?

"Sister, what are you doing?" someone yells.

I turn, little sister is standing in the door, looking worried at me, holding a cup, which is steaming. Coffee. A kingdom for coffee. Sometimes she actually can be useful, this little weird loveable sister of mine. But why does she carry a sock with a rock in it, in her other hand? No, no. Does she plan to punish me for the night? Is she father's daughter that much?

Hachiman

I am up much too early. The sun is irritating my eyes and a bad heavy metal drummer is using my head as a rehearsal room and why do I have a bruise on my forehead?

The outing yesterday has probably given me a cold, but my mother has no mercy. The grocery list is longer than my arm. Mom always cooks up a storm at New Year, where we have more time together, although Father spends much of his time negotiation with tv-stations about who of his B-idols are going to have "accidents" in their changing rooms. New Year traditions after must all be kept.

On the streets, people are starting to remove the Christmas decoration and putting up the decoration for the New Year. Last day for Christmas cakes. Maybe I can get one for ½ price already?

A man bumps into me. What. I turn around, I see, it was the same man as yesterday. Stop looking at your phone, when you walk. Idiot.

Saki

Little brother is already hitting the books when I leave for the school. He may not have gained what he wished. But he had gained a lot of motivation for getting into Sobu. For that I must thank Komachi-chan. No doubt, that she will be a good sister in law. If I marry her brother, then. No, that is not a kind of incest.

Maybe I should take a lesson from Komachi-chan. I must be more firm with him and make demands of him, so he can show me his love through his action. Orimoto did mention, that many males' crows have difficulties expressing themselves, and prefer to show through acting rather than through words.

But what should I demand? But that is something I can reflect on, while making the last costumes for FuyuComi in so short time. Hina-chan is such a hard taskmaster.

Minami

I look around. It is not my bed. It is not my room. I sit up in the bed. Oh, there is blood on the sheets, and I have a bracelet on my arm. Oh, I must have gone and done it. The one thing Megumi-chan said, I must not do when dating for rewards and not love.

So, this is the way the last virgin of Sobu class 2F girls fall. What I protected so carefully, in order to catch Hayato-kun, since the rumors says he only do virgins, and I want him so much. But that bitch Yumiko took him, like she took Yui from me. I, who trained Yui and turned her into something useful.

So loyal a Yui, just as loyal as the others of my friend, when the world turned, and the lowest became the highest. Only the whore stayed my friend, when I fell.

Maybe I should have offed the oh so great Abe no my virginity, as they already claim I have done, instead of just becoming one of his Miko's. Then I at least would be recognized along with the other great beauties of his harem. Maybe then I would have gotten more than a bracelet from an old man for my virginity. Something genuine, maybe even a sense of being loved for myself.

I examine the bracelet in the dim morning light. At least the bracelet is nice, silver, and there is a jewelry charm added to it, gleaming. At least this is something genuine, since it clearly has some value, especially the jewelry charm, a pentagram with a rock in the middle. Funny, it looks just like the pattern of my virgin blood on the sheet. Some would call that an example of symmetric magic. But there is no magic left in the world of the grown up, this world I have joined this night. Only desires and will is left, as childhood's magic is lost.

I lower my arm and see a note on the bedside table. I take it.

"Dear Minami-chan, thank you for the greatest Christmas gift I have ever received. I hope you will meet with me again. Please call me. Don't worry about the hotel, I have settled the bill, and they serve a decent breakfast.

Your friend forever Tanaka".

Well, at least I lost it to a gentleman, and I don't feel any pains, as they claim is normal after having done it for the first time. Maybe ages teach skill, as strength is lost. My father always says that, when he drinks with his buddies.

But why have I no memory of it? Should I not remember my first time? I was not drunk, Megumi-chan did ensure that we only got one glass of wine each. Was I drugged? There are stories. But Tanaka seems so nice and safe.

My new bracelet seems to start glowing, what? why? As I look at the bracelet, I can see it is beautiful, really beautiful. Tanaka is nice and safe, really nice and safe, the friend I need. I need.

Shizuka

As I wake up, I see him beside me. That was a good ride, but somewhat conservative. Probably because he is a cop. I give it a 7 out of 10 on the excitement scale. This is nice, but what now? The guy normally leaves, before I wake up, but he is still there. Some may be nice and come back with bread for breakfast and tell me, that they will contact me. But they never do. Will he return, after he leaves?

My phone beeps. I take it up. Tsumugi-chan, my old class president from high school. She is always so good to keep in contact. What, the captain is coming back to Japan, and he wants to meet me? Was he not to meet Klitschko?

Hyousuke

The Kaihin Computer Club is stealing more and more of my gaming time. Being educated is a time robber, even if Yui is a very good-looking teacher and almost as kind as Komachi-chan.

But the club secretary had claimed this would be a good way to understand the club's functions at Kaihin.

So now I have been here from early morning, to see the secretary in function, as we sit in the computer club room and make deals with pupils from the school.

The secretary is a weird person. He is taller and better looking than the rest of us in the club, probably because of his foreign blood, his mother should be English. He could easily camouflage himself as a riajuu, but instead he flaunts his otakuness. This day, his hair is blue.

"Nice pair of quartz earring, you got as a Christmas gift, Hayami-san. The club will be interested in acquiring them" the secretary say's, as he holds the ear-rings up between us to be viewed. Our current customer being a girl from third year.

"They are not bad, but natural perfect breasts won the competition again, she got a hard rock. Damn, she always wins. I did think I could win this year, but the bull I am squeezing is so stingy", Hayami complains.

"I agree with your evaluation of your prey, for I think these earrings belong to a set with a neckless and bracelet", the secretary said: "Is the bugger married?".

"No, he is a widow. He is a principal at a local primary school in town", Hayami responds.

"Do he have any children?", the secretary continues his questions.

"No, he always says, that he has enough with the kids at his school. I think I know everything about him, he really likes to talk about himself" Hayami tells.

"Well, if I may come with a suggestion then?", the secretary asks.

"Of course, everyone know you are the cleverest in school, Humphrey-kun" Hayami chuckles.

"Keep the earrings for now and wear them all the time to tell him, just how much you love them and thereby him. That should ensure you get the rest of the set. When you have the complete set and give it to us, then we will ensure that you get passing grades in April", the secretary says, as he gives the earrings back to Hayami: "But remember, you may get your high school degree, but any collage or employer will quickly realize, that you don't match them, if you seek the wrong education or job".

"What should I do then?" Hayami asks, worried.

"Think about marrying you bull. He probably has a house and a good pension, maybe some money hidden away too. If you marry him, it will all become yours, when he dies. Old men die so easily, accident happens, they can even be arranged, for a price" the secretary says with a smile.

Hayami starts to laugh, as she gets up from her chair, and says: "Right now, you sounded just like natural perfect breast down in the club".

The secretary replies with singing, as he gets up and bows to her: "Money, Money, must be funny in the rich man world".

In response to that Hayami pose and then moves her hands down and up her well-shaped body, rather alluring I must say, but not as much as it would be, if it was Komachi, who were doing it. Hayami then sings: "In my dreams I have a plan. If I got me a wealthy man".

She stops and looks speculative at us: "So you're saying, he should have money enough to pay for getting my nose fixed and my breasts made perfect, so I also can get hard-rocks in the future? Thanks for the idea, boys. See you in April with the full set".

As Hayami leaves, I get up and put the chair back in its place and remove her cup. The secretary sits back in his chair. I get his cup, and pour some new tea from the thermos, and place the cup back before him. He then asks me: "Another satisfied customer, Machio-san. Do you know, why we want those crystals?".

That is easy: "For Ai-chan".

"Yes, you will be surprised, what schoolkids can get their hands on, if motivated enough, especially in this merry season of gifts. It is the best time of the year for our business.

But it still takes so much time to build Ai-chan, and the crystals are far too small. If we just had access to a chemical factory to synthesize large crystals for us and the power from a nuclear plan, we could get Ai-chan up and running as she should be" the secretary moans.

I ask a question, I have wondered about the, the way we pay for goods: "How come nobody discover, that we manipulate the results of the tests?".

"As long as the school's averages is according with the expected results for a school with pupils of our social-economic background, the monitoring systems are not going to target our school for investigations.

So, we ensure that we have the necessary outliers on the curve and changes the test results among members of the bulk of the students. Of course, those who has their results decreased is the schools riajuu, ikeman and bullies. So, we punish those who are evil, and reward those who are good, for a little bit of payment to help the greater good, that is Ai-chan" the secretary explains with a smile.

We both then laugh by the thought of those riajuu, ikeman and bullies have it coming. Let them suffer, as they deserve. They may not know it, but we own them. Those who program is the true rulers of the world. We are the ones, who create and changes the world through numbers, according to our will.

Someone knocks on the door. I get up and open the door.

This time it is a boy that is waiting. He is holding the new Sony laptop model in his hands. Where did he get his hands on that? I think I am starting to drool; it is so wonderful.

"Come in Mouse, I can see that you have shocked my new kohai already" I hear the secretary says behind me.

Mouse, yes, he is a bit small, but wiry and a lot of muscles. Probably trained in a martial art. I follow him to the table and pull the chair out for this mouse. He bows to the secretary, who just smiles to him in return. Then Mouse sits down and place the laptop before the secretary on table.

"Nice piece. You know we want it. What do you want for it?", the secretary says, as he takes the lab-top, and open it.

"Consider it a gift for the future. One never knows, when you need friends" Mouse say's with a small sitting bow to the secretary.

"So, you have read the great book now. Good. I hear you have great ambitions. Bedding the Ice-queen of Sobu. She is indeed beautiful" the secretary responds with a small lecherous smile.

"Yes, she is, in and out of cat-suit, and I also liked her speech. Long time I have heard anyone speaking so clearly in public about the need to clean house. Many of us brothers really liked it. I even got her autograph to my collection" Mouse says proudly.

"We are able to arrange you to meet her in a more private setting, if you are interested. We are making her homepage. She wants to reach out and help people to change. She is a very noble lady" the secretary reply.

"Yes, but not noble enough for our owner of Chiba. Her mother tried to get the older sister to seduce him last night. She even brought a girlfriend to help. I don't know if she and her friend succeed in it. They were all wasted when they left Angel Ladder Café. Both of those girls are gorgeous, but maybe the rich and powerful are made of better and sterner stuff than us bottom-feeders" Mouse says with a smile.

"Have you sold that information to anyone?" the secretary asks with interested.

"Of course not, sent it upstairs. Our new oyabun like that kind of information" Mouse reply.

"Yes, our new oyabun is a man of the modern world. Security services, information services and manipulation of bids and contracts. It shows his background in the corporate world.

I expect you have heard the rumors, that the man who died by jumping on the train track right in front of him, actually was trying to murder him, and were not committing suicide to protest against just having been fired by our new oyabun", the secretary tells with humor.

"No, that is new. The media wrote a lot about the suicide, calling it a modern form of seppuku" Mouse respond. Mouse seems happy to get the gossip.

"And then others started to protest their sacking by committing suicide too, and the company was forced to get the oyabun to resign to get out of the shitstorm. Such is the power of mass media.

But the loss of the corporate world is our gain. He is a man with the will to succeed, no doubt about that. No more nonsense about traditions and the superstition. My grandfather was so old fashioned. Believing in magic in our days and time" the secretary sums up.

Fuck, the secretary is the grandson of the late oyabun, that was killed by the dagger of Tamamo-no-Mae? Just what kind of mess is I in? Another fine mess.

Minami II

What happened? What time is it? How did it get so late? Shit, brother is so going to use the fact that I will come home late, to call our parents' attention to me. I do so not need that. I must get Megumi-chan and find a believable explanation. She will know what to do.

Hachiman II

I made it back. My arms must have been stretched a meter by carrying all those bags, at least. Not lying.

After having deposited the goods in the kitchen, I change into my tracksuit and get into the living room. I can hear a couch calling me.

Kamakura is sitting on the window ledge, sunbathing in the winter sun. The room is a bit stuffy after I have been out, but at least my outing has helped with my headache. I open the window to let some fresh air in and start petting Kamakura.

I look out of the window. A little girl is dancing along her mother on the sidewalk. Her mother asks her something. The child responds by yelling: "No mother, I don't want a spicy curry. In this hash spicy life of ours, I at least want to enjoy a sweeter, milder curry".

I laugh. The girl has already understood the basic principles of life. I look at Kamakura, who has started to purr by my attention and ask: "Now she only needs a cat to be perfect, does she not?"

Kamakura

Well, since you ask, I shall see what I can arrange, when she gets to the age, where she is able to learn to serve. This dimension is not bad for a cat. I had at last managed to hunt down the rare, elusive killer sushi last night. Tasty treats for the cat.

Of cause, the best I ever have caught was still the three space whales. Yum. I had been out of action for a week after that feast. Could not even move a whisker. My taste buds still remember it. Now, swipe down the side, servant number three.

In a completely different place

A girl is caught in her own little room-com love situation. One thing is to discover one's sexual preference. Another thing, and completely different, is to survive the impulses of that preference. The kissable mouth of her best friend, the alluring legs of the captain of the track and field team or the appealing late bloomer in the class.

The captain

Khat, khat, khat.

Flags waving. Shouting's: "Banzai, banzai". "Captain; you are the greatest". "Banzai, banzai".

A man in a yellow jacket sticks a microphone into the nose of a very big man and yells in the noise: "Captain, we are all here to congratulate for your marvelous victory. Defeating Klitschko in the first round, knocking him out with your famous left hook. What are you going to do now?".

The captain holds his hands up in the air, showing the belt to the many fans gathered in the airport to great their new champion: "To meet the girl, who promised me to marry me, when I became the champion. It is for her; I fight every time, all the time".

The sound of crying is coming from people present. Even strong men get a tear in their eyes, when they hear that statement. The sound of banzai increases.

Khat, khat, khat.

Idol production

The girls were in their battle uniforms and carrying champagne and caviar down the corridor, entering the great boss office. What is going on now? It is good that I decided to get into office, even if we are allowed to work from home around New Year.

I decided to go to the source of all information, the great boss personal secretary. She knows everything before anyone else in the company. I put on my best smile and enter her den. She may be old, but still a woman.

"What's going on? Our best products dressed like that and the finest food brought in? Is the prime here to get a new wife?" I joke.

"No, the boss has a meeting with the vice-principal of Sobu High to get his daughter into the school" is the short reply I get.

"Sobu High, getting the greatest delinquent in greater Tokyo into that school? Better let me package her instead. A bad girl would earn us some serious Yen on advertisement. But of course, that is not possible for the daughter of the boss, even if she is better looking than any of our idols" I complain.

"Yes, and by the way. We have a reorg. You and the others idol managers will from the first of January refer to Hikigaya-san", she replies coldly.

Ooops, I forgot, you actually like that monster girl. But why that old timer, and not me? "I thought he was on his way out, because of his old-fashioned ideas and behavior".

"That was before the change of ownership", she says sardonically. Why, have my smile lost its touch since I was the face of the company? "What, we are no longer owned by the oyabun?"

"No, seem like the old oyabun sold our company to that temple some years ago, but kept the right to act on the shares as long he lived" she explains.

Oh, so much for family love: "Not a nice way to treat a favored son. No wonder the older brothers call that boy the owner of Chiba", I comment.

"Not that favored, after all he was forced to marry the English horse by his father" she responds with hatred.

Oh, yes. That. You had hoped that he would keep his promise to you and marry you. Foolish women, the oyabun would never have been able to get a son married to a Japanese woman with such a heritage. "Well, all English girl reminds me of horses" I joke, hoping that my statement would pacify her. Now, what could I do to get into my new boss good grace?

The visitor

An old man walks slowly along the tombstones in the graveyard. He stops by a large stone with the name: "Yukinoshita" and get down on one foot, putting a plum blossom by the foot of the grave and whisper: "So old comrade, I think this is the last time I get to visit you. I met your great granddaughter; she is a beauty and smart too. Full of fire and want to change the world, but unfortunately it is quite the wrong doctrines she preaches. I think she will be astonished to learn the truth about you, but I promise you this. If she goes the way of your father and grandfather than I will ensure, that she dies quickly and painless, just like your son. Rest peacefully in the knowledge, that no Yukinoshita will ever rape, plunder and burn the cities of China again".

Meanwhile, two young men dressed in black suits watch the old man, doing what all younger official do, complain about their situation and superiors:

"How long are we going to wait here?".

"Until the old man is finished".

"We do nothing but visit graveyards. It is so boring".

"Bette boring than dead. If the general hear you complaining, the last grave, he is going to visit, before his retirement, is yours".

Well, it is a sad fact, that I hear everything you two says. I may be old, but technology compensates for both loss of hearing and distance.

In the old days, none of my guards would have said anything outside of the base due to operational security, and everyone would know to check themselves for tags.

And no, in these soft day's I can't have the sons of party members shoot at will, but your next postings will be at an uncertain border. Hopefully that will learn you two something, or you will become heroes of the party.

Deng may not have been a firm believer in the cause, but at least he had been effective in getting rid of the useless sons, nephews and grandsons of the party, courtesy of Vietnamese bullets. Sometimes it is better that the leader is efficient, rather than a believer, but Deng had led to technocrats leading the party, and now a new layer of deadwood is dragging the party down with their arrogance, stupidity and behavior: Fast cars, hookers and snow. No wonder they alienate the people so. The Great Helmsman would have sent them all for reeducation on the farms.

I must soon decide who will be the next chairman or the helm of China will be left to chance, and this time I will not be there to order the tanks into the city to save us from going the way of the Soviet Union.

Editor Asami

I place the pictures and the transcript before me on my desk.

Oh, Shizuka-chan, so naughty. It was good that I did pay for inferred to. What is your head doing in his lap? But you are a friend, so let us keep this out for now, since you are going to be a star anyway.

It is my luck, that you have told me about the boy, who was the captain of the boxing team of your high school and your first crush. Who could know that he would succeed, and that while you dating a bona fide hero: Save idol from a stalker, rescue children from a burning building and stopping crazy driving on route 14. And then there is the fact, that are those who mention that he is a possible candidate for a yellow ribbon. Oh, Shizuka, you do know how to pick them.

And then you also have an omiai to go to, from the line of the principal. That boy is probably a bishonen of rank, like the principal was. It was one of my few disappointments, that the principal refused me, after I graduated from Sobu. He was so very nice about it, when he told me about his view, that once you became his pupil, then you always was a pupil of him, regardless of age, and that it was bad karma for a teacher to touch a pupil in an inappropriate manner. I admire his character, even if it was not to my benefit.

Then the extra surprises of the night. Chiba heartthrob number one getting a new girlfriend. A girl from the owner of Chiba's harem, while the owner recruits the ex-girlfriend to his harem. I did turn you from a boy into a man, but that you already have evolved to girlfriend-swapping, is fast. I foresee a long glorious career for you.

And such a nice picture of your ex-girlfriend with the owner. It looks like she is a young wife, who is transporting her husband home from a successful evening at the husbands' company. Unfortunately, that the recorder fell out under that. I would like to know what they discussed. Maybe what is genuine?

I do not know how he does it, something genuine. There is not a mother, who will not cry, when they read about it, and be filled with disgust of the methods of the Yukinoshita matriarch. Sending her oldest daughter to seduce him like that, after having failed with the youngest.

But quite inspirational. Maybe an invitation to my New Year party will have your interest, oldest daughter. A lot of good-looking man, to play with and also good champagne. You must bring the caviar.

I look at the boxes of champagne. Such a nice gift from the headwaiter. He did not know that the owner was underage. So sweet a coffee, and so much of it. That boy's liver must be made of steel.

And then there is his little sister. So good a daughter. The way every mother wants their daughter to behave, even if they themselves would have torn off that boy's clothes and had their way with him, if they had gotten such a chance, when they were young and irresponsible.

Yes, this is going to be the greatest number of love ever. Ran is going to cry, as I get the ticket to Hawaii. The sun, the drinks, the young men surfing on the waves, and the hot nights.

FuyuComi

An editor
I suffer as only a man can suffer, when he is sent to do the errands of his mistress, his only one etc. etc. as bags weigh my arms down.

Of course, I have only myself to blame for it. My father had warned me, never stick in crazy.

But I did it, knowing that my girl is rotten to the core, and I am still happy with my choice. But it gives me the duty to ensure, that she gets her drug, as she is on the clock to deliver, while my duty is at this place anyway, seeing if there is anyone, who can be the next hit.

But soon my burden will be over. The circle of Sobu High is my last stop on my far too long list. Just how many rotten girls are there in Japan?

As I enter Sobu High area of influence, I see the rows of girls waiting to get their drug. Yep, many.

But there is something new. The girls selling the drugs are dressed as foxes, and one side of the wall carries the sign "Yokai Guardians, protectors of harmony" with a lot of drawings under it.

I start to look them over. At least it is not an iseikai. Oh, there are still some shirtless young men with six packs in this story, but there are a lot more monster girls in fierce battles, resulting in panty shots and girls on girl's situation. This is not the typical product of Sobu High.

All in all, not bad, even if the story needs some heavy editing. Especially those fox girls need more work. They look too much like dogs.

Looks like I have found a possibility, even if it's not a room comedy love story, where we are introduced to the heroine, who is going to win, in the first chapter, and the boy is a clueless idiot, who is going to suffer in so many ways, because he is lucky enough to be surrounded by beauties. They are the best kind of stories.

Il principal

I hear his speech. It is good to see him in such a good form again, even if he is such a problem maker. But it is his charismatic ability to get into trouble, that make him such a wonderful companion in boring days.

"So, my advice is, never let a follower check if your enemy is dead. Do it yourself. As an evil overlord you must never shy away from getting blood on your hand", he says, as he finishes his performance.

The audience clap and there is quickly a queue to get selfies. Poor Tom, what he does not have to accept. One after another of magical girls defeating him. Well, he gets the view up as compensation. Tom, you are still such a pervert. You are such a quick learner, but you only learn our worst habits. Panty shots at your age.

When the last of the audience have left, Tom closes the door, and dispel his magic. It makes the world so much easier, when you don't have to spend hours to do your make-up. I used that trick a lot, when I was a kabuki-player in the Genroku period.

"Daishi-kun, so nice of you, that you could come. We must see each other more", Tom says, as greets me.

I smile, Tom is such a kidder: "As I would miss your performance. Whose body is you using?".

"Oh, this fine fellow. He was a gift from the president" Tom reply.

I shake my head: "Tom, Tom. Don't tell me that you have started again?".

Tom just smiles at me. Yes, once again, into the battel he rides. I should never have taken him to that meet and greet in the teacher union.

"Let's talk about what is important. My daughter's" Tom asks.

"Do you not mean my daughter?" I reply with a smirk.

"Oh, no curse anymore? She got a daughter, she is mine. If she got a son, he would have been yours. Another one to kill you", Tom says, as he gives me the fingers. Yes, my fertility is high, and her curse, as efficient as always. Oh, my queen. It was not by my will; I am as ever just another weak man.

"Well, she is alright. Not too bright, but in love and happy. Has great people skill, just like her mother" I say.

"And my other one and does he still want to kill me?" he continues his questions.

"Undoubtedly, you know how Fu Manchu is, only true heroes are allowed to approach his daughters, but I think he bought your death. After all, it was such a grand and absurd death" I laugh.

Tom bows. Ever the showman: "Than you, thank you. You are such a wonderful audience. But regarding my other daughter".

"Oh, she has too much power. I have placed her with a local ninja clan. The clan is expert in handling that kind of troubles. Full throttle on self-control.

That agreement is until he revives her. He is such a big softie with his daughters, even if he kills them, when they play around with unsuitable guys. But stop thinking. She is waiting, and you know she do not like waiting" I say and point to the door.

A man in a yellow jacket

Number of cat girls up since last year. The camera crew catch it all. The public like this stuff, even if they say the kids are crazy. It still looks fun and reminds them about a time with dreams and hope.

Sobu High, the notorious. Well, maybe a shot or two for the good of the house mothers. They also need dreams and hope.

What is this: "Yokai Guardians, protectors of harmony" and with lots of girls. Approved by Abe no sama.

This is a story about the temple. Well, this way I can tell something without telling. This will be a good prelude for my New Year transmission. Now, where can I find the creator of the story. Hopefully the maker is a beautiful girl and not a fat otaku. Beautiful girls sell the story.

Homepage

Yukino

I look on, as he shows me my new homepage on the PC before us: "In this top corner, is your links to charities, you recommend for support. In this top corner is the links to your page with recommendation for books, you have read. My uncle is by the way, very happy for your letter about his book. It is not often; he gets that kind of feedback.

Between those two is the box with links to videos of your public speeches, participation in new shows and so on.

Then in the middle is your current main message, and below that is the links to your former messages.

The homepage is linked to your Line account, and we have also established a twitter account for international message. Updates from both accounts will be shown above your current message.

As you can see, it is a very simple form of a homepage. But the message on this page, is the message, not the design.

So, if you can try it out for some time, then we can look at what can be optimized with regard to your use of the page and the readers experience. But for the time being I do not recommend any possibility for contacting you through the page or leaving any kind of comment. That kind of features only attracts the trolls".

That seems simple enough, even Yui should be able to use it. I try some of the links and then I use Line to send a message: "Feed the cat, keep the country clean and have a nice day" ending with a cat emoji. It shows below the three boxes, and above my coming message. Everything works. Now I just have to think about a good message for the New Year.

I bow to him as thanks for his work. He smiles, and waves me off: "It was my pleasure".

Then there is knocking on the door. He goes and open the door: "Good you could come, Mouse. The computer I need to have transported is nearly ready to go. Yukinoshita-san, may I introduce you to Mouse, a good friend of the computer club, and general trouble shooter here at Kaihin. If you have any problems, Mouse is the man to solve them".

I greet him as I recognize him. He is the polite boy, who I gave my autograph. What a coincidence.

Somewhere, elsewhere

"Thank you, Kon-chan. I hope you had a good time at FuyuComi". Yes, "Boys of Sobu XII". I have waited so long for it. I start to tear off the plastic to get to my treasure. There are reasons we keep watch over the mortals, even if Amaterasu-ōmikami complains all the time about all that work, they create for us.

"Yes, Goddess" (in remembrance of)

I look around, as I sit down on the chair in the waiting chamber and look at the number I have been assigned: "666". I don't even know, how I came to be here.

The door goes up, and a man comes in, carrying a folder. I recognize him, of course. He was once my boss, so I get up: "Sir Humphrey".

"Oh, it is good to see you, Bernard. Please come with me, I have, based on your experiences, arranged for you to be assigned as a private secretary to the chair God of the council of love, fertility and growth", he says, as he gives me the folder.

I take it. Sir Humphrey then turns and start to move toward the door.

"Sir?" I respond.

He turns once again to face me: "Yes Bernard, what is it?".

"Sir, what is this place?" I inquire.

Sir Humphrey starts to smile. It reminds me of the times, where he was once again were tricking the minister: "Well, Bernard. That is a matter of perspectives. Some will probably think hell. Others may regard this as purgatory. But for us selected few, well, we call it heaven. Welcome to the central administration of prison planet 0315".

"Prison planet? Sir" I ask confused.

"Yes Bernard. Think Australia, just on a galactic scale, and with some rather particular biological experiment thrown in too. Life on Earth is much older and weirder, than you think. You will get that lesson in the staff orientation for new employees" Sir Humphrey say.

The Yukinoshita

As I arrive at the morning room, I note my wife is not yet present. Another man may have the thought, that his wife had an affair, but if her late nights with her girlfriend, was of that kind, they should at least be polite enough to let us watch. But my wife is much to proper for that kind of activities of course.

One of our servants arrives silently, and pour coffee for me, as I sit down. I take the stack of newspapers; we have received this morning. Everything is as expected, even the fact, that we probably soon will get an election. That we had kept power after the 2009 election was a miracle, and of course only made possible because of the buyout of a lot of minority parties.

Fortunately, the prime is an expert on that, and his stance on the Senkaku Islands ensures, that the right wing will support the party without question. More problematic, it is not enough to ensure, that I will get the votes needed. I must contact my cousin, our new oyabun, to get the necessary votes for my reelection.

But if there just were some other ways to get more visibility. I take the next paper, Chiba Weekly News. Hopefully they have a good scandal to entertain me. Hmm, that boy on the front cover again, sleeping, while his hand is held by a young girl and the letters "Seeking the genuine".

And below there is a picture of my coming son in law kissing a young girl. Well, that is going to postpone the announcement of the engagement for some time.

Sobu High has standard, so an affair there must at least be over several dates. It was something different at Kaihin High, where I was a pupil. There love is from Friday to Friday, and anything beyond a month is the sign of true love – and madness. Like I, like we were, before.

Then a picture of a woman, I recognize her. The hot young teacher at Sobu, who body carries a thousand promises. Oh, she must like them big. A hero and a champion. As uncle always said, never apologize, except to them who can make you squeal like a pig. Sound advice. Hopefully they are not making him scream to much – down below.

Oh, there is also a picture of Haruno-chan clinging to that boy. Now, what was that? Is that even possible? What exactly had my dear wife taught our daughter, when she told Haruno-chan about the bees and the flowers? Well, that is a form of visibility, but probably not the best one for a conservative candidate.

Haruno

I put Chiba Weekly News down on the table before me. I know, I complained to him about turning little sister into a national sex symbol, and that he had never done anything for me. But this. This, this is actually what I asked him for, in the literal sense, but not what I actually want.

Well, at least it explains the invitation I got from their editor to a New Year party.

The Tobe

The little sister is probably just as decadent as the older. Is that even possible? No wonder my useless son is watching that movie all the time. Whores, Whores. They are nothing. A family of a pimp and his whores.

No, the young lord's sister instead. She is a proper lady. Making good demands of her suitors. Why can my idiot son not fall for her?