They make their way to the exit when they are stopped by a security man she got along with while working.

"Mogami-sama. I was told to escort you back up the president's office."

"I will go back at another time, Mitsuhide-san." At least it's him. But he is being too formal for just me. It must be the order. "Right now though, we will be going." She makes a move to go around them and he moves back in front of them again.

"I'm sorry, Kyoko-chan, but I have my orders."

"They'll be changed if he is smart, now let us leave, please."

He then notices Kanae then. "You may pass, Kotonami-sama."

"What's going on?" Is she in some sort of trouble?

"It is nothing to worry about. The president just wishes to speak to her over something I guess." He doesn't know? Wait, why would he? It is a secret after all, kept nicely from me.

"I know what it is about and it really is nothing to worry about. However, I am not feeling quite up to talking with the president. It would be another headache at this point." She touches the crown of her head as if to prove a point. "I'm having Moko-san take me home."

"Are you alright, Kyoko-chan?" He looks at her worriedly.

"It isn't something a good night's rest can't handle, Mitsuhide-san," she reassures him. "But with how things were, the president's office would be the last place I should be headed." Kanae looks at her friend in surprise for the tightness in her voice.

"Is it a LoveMe thing?" He gives her a knowing look that she remembers from their shared time together on the job and she smiles.

I'm glad we came this way. "Yes."

"Degree?"

She shakes her head. "Too complicated."

"Hmm...It's a direct order from the top though."

"How much?"

"Two. Open ended."

"Charitable, huh? Okay. Deal."

His eyes change to worry and he isn't even looking at Kyouko. "Oh Kotonami-sama, you don't look so well."

Kyoko relaxes. I've got this soldier, president.

He rushes towards the other girl, moving past Kyoko and fussing over her, supporting her weight and feeling her forehead. "You best be getting home before you get any worse. We can't have it interfere with your career."

"What about Kyoko-chan?"

He nods solemnly. "She is a good person to oversee you in your time of need, indeed. You should head over to her place. Immediately. I can call you a taxi if you need." He takes out a phone and starts dialling. "She would be glad to see you."

"But she's right here." What is this?

"That fever must be a tough one if you're seeing people that aren't there." He holds the phone to his ear as it rings. He orders a cab to be sent to LME and escorts Kanae outside with Kyoko silently trailing along. When it arrives, he pays the taxi as they climb in. "Get rest Kotonami-sama, and get well soon."

"Will do?" He nods and heads inside as the car drives off towards Kyoko's place. "What is going on here?"

Kyoko hangs her head low in her hands. "I used you to escape, I'm sorry."

"Why are you fleeing from work? Why are we in a taxi? Why did he let you go? Who was that in the locker room? Why are we leaving? Why does the president want to see you? Why did he let us go? What is going on here?"

"I'm sorry Moko-saaaan," Kyoko cries. "I can't tell you! It isn't my place to say any of it, so I can't say!" Tears rapidly make tracks down her face.

She is obviously in distress. Something's up or she wouldn't have been rude earlier. "What can you tell me?"

"I know Mitsuhide-san from the LoveMe section when I covered people for their breaks a few times. We help each other out sometimes. I promised to make him two lunches in exchange for not seeing me."

"And it works?" That is almost amazing.

"It comes in handy. He likes my sweets too."

"And that is the only thing you can tell me?"

"I think so. Oh! Tsuruga-san knows I'm Bo. I don't know how, but I found that out as well. Now it is only Shoutaro who can't know and doesn't."

"How does that connect with any of this?"

"It doesn't." She sobs, trying to calm down. "But it was something I could tell you."

"Fine. Anything else?"

Kyouko searches her mind for anything she can say. "The president is not part of the Yakuza."

I didn't even have that doubt, idiot! Oh well, it is obvious I can't push too much. "Will you be able to tell me the rest eventually?"

"I don't know, but if I find out one day that I can, I will."

One day? "Good. Now, for payment for dragging me into this without explanation, you owe me dinner."

"What?" She asks, kind of thrown off guard.

"I was going to go out for some before this whole thing. But quit your crying, or I'll just leave: it's unnerving."

"O-okay," she sniffles. "I'll make you something back at the Dayurama."

"It had better be good."

Kanae leaves soon after she is done eating, afraid that if she stays longer she will end up pressing her friend further and causing a commotion. Would Tsuruga know what is wrong with her?