Steffi was at her diner, wiping the counter with a cloth.

"Oh, hello! I'm at my diner, about to start business. Julie suggested a dish that hits her home of Canada. I've made come bacon and powder."

She showed a plate of Canadian Bacon and some chili powder and smiled, "What'll they think of next?"

She pouted, "Also, she told me to just serve pancakes, sausage, and some eggs. I'm not a breakfast nook, you know!"

She then said to the 4th wall, "Seriously, before the recap of our last chapter, please point out that the next couple of chapters will have sexual scenes that may be too uncomfortable for readers under the age of 21. And, no, Mom, there are no pornographic bits in this story. You think I'm stupid?"

Last time, shocking developments occur, as Akai Kādo was in Asahi Sakurai's radar. She learned who was behind the identity of the mysterious woman – Minami Makimura. However, she's about to encounter a very shocking moment, as Asahi enters the slums of Hane City, unbeknownst to her that Heather is tagging along, in stealth.
Meanwhile, The Gang's Steven, Peter, and Mizuki are at the old estate of the late band, Ho-kago Tea Time, here to solve some mysteries, including the missing will of Yui Hirasawa. They will be hired by a young man, who has interest in help, since a party is about to go down.
But who was the voice that told him that The Gang had arrived, only to go undercover? Only time will tell… as we begin a brand-new arc in The Gang's story.

Chapter 45
Three Mansion Maniacs
(三邸宅マニアの巻)
(a.k.a. Pests in the After School Tea Time)

NOTE: Due to parts that contain sexual scenes, read carefully and cautiously.
Reader's discretion advised…

At the mansion of Ho-kago Tea Time, Peter, Steven, and Mizuki entered the back door. Steven whispered, "Now remember, if we can find anything inside the mansion, it'll be a clue from Yui and the others, from beyond the grave… or, at least, behind a curtain."

Mizuki said, "Well, I'm not approving the idea of wearing a maid outfit, since it could be revealing."

Steven smiled, "Trust me, Miz. Whoever owns the place is entitled to a dress code. That would mean that Steven Cooke and Big Guy, over here, cannot stare at your cleavage."

Mizuki blushed and remarked, sarcastically, "Gee, thanks…"

She held her chest, as Peter sighed, "Steven, wait. What if we want to use a plan that works, other than Mizuki? I'm okay with it, since we're on duty, but I cannot convince myself to see her in a black and white maid outfit."

Mizuki blushed and said, "Actually…"

She held up a maid outfit, which was purple with white and pink frills. She then said, "Black and white is dull. I had Haga make this for me, while you two had to be fitted at a clothing place."

Steven thought, "I knew I should've stayed with her."

Peter replied, "Maybe Reiko can fit me in a suit like that."

Mizuki said, "Let's get through this, first. But remember, I'm the boss on this one."

She said to Steven, "And Steven, if you so much blow this, remind me to have Farra wring your neck."

She smiled, "Incidentally…"

She strangled Steven, as she shouted, "THAT WAS FOR YESTERDAY, JERK!"

Steven gagged, "WHAT DID I DO?"

Peter shouted, "IT'S NOT THE SAAAAAAAAAAME!"

BONK!
He bonked both Steven and Mizuki on the head and barked, "Now, shut up, and let's get this over with! I don't want to make a scene!"

He knocked on the door, as Mizuki held her head, with a lump on it. Steven moaned, "With just us three, we're like stooges. But we're not… We're musical superheroes…"

The man from inside called, "Come in. The back door is open!"

XXXXX

They entered the office of the man in white, as Mikihara was reading the business card that Steven made.

"Helpers Wanted – ask for Percy. You three are kind of new to us," she said.

Mizuki nodded, "Oh, yes. This is our first day."

The man in white held up a fan and said, "It's nice to meet you three. Before we begin your duties, allow me to introduce myself. I am Atsunobu Hayashimizu. I am the President of the Jindai High Student Council, before the incident. This is my assistant, Ren Mikihara."

Ren bowed, "How do you do?"

Peter smiled, "Charmed."
Mizuki said, "Chilled."
Steven bragged, "Checked in…"

Atsunobu responded, "You three. Do you have credentials?"

They asked, "Huh?"

He said, "What are your names?"

Steven smiled, "Uh… The name's Sam."

He thought, "Gotta stay incognito."

Mizuki gets his idea and said, "I'm Mary."

Peter bowed, "And I'm Randy."

Mizuki thought in annoyance, "Randy?!"

Atsunobu said, "I see. You know, you three remind me of The Gang's Steven Cooke, Mizuki Takase, and Peter Giese."

Ren added, "And they look bigger, on-stage."

Peter said, "Everybody does, Miss."

Steven said, "Well, just so we're clear, we have NO similarities with them."

Mizuki said, "I got wind of it. So, what do we do here?"

Ren said, "Well, we're having a party, today. We needed a cook and two butlers."

Steven said, "I'll cook."

Mizuki bowed, "I have a uniform prepared, just for this moment."

Atsunobu asked, "Before you join us, I want to know what kind of experience you had in serving food."

Peter thought, and then said, "Well… I don't know… I once had to work at a diner, washing dishes, giving tips, and even help with the supplies."

Mizuki responded, "I used to be a waitress in a small café, but left, after someone took a peek up my skirt."

Steven said, "Well, I'm not much to brag, but I'm an excellent chef. I can make exotic and exquisite foods, like a nice almond quiche."

Ren smiled, "How delectable."

Atsunobu said, "Seems fair… Randy will be our chef, while Sam and Mary will handle the guests."

Steven cried, "WHAT?"

Peter cheered, "SCORE!"

Mizuki said, "Please excuse my friend, Randy… He's a bit hyper over getting the food."

She thought, "Something tells me that he wants inexperience over frugal, any day."

Atsunobu said, "You three are hired. You start work, in three hours. Miss Mikihara will show you to your rooms."

Ren said, "Follow me."

She led the others to their rooms, which is upstairs.

XXXXX

All three Gang members were in a huge bedroom, as Ren replied, "I hope you make yourselves at home. After all, my Senior wants to have you stay, as long as you can."

Mizuki asked, "Just curious. Does this house here belong to a Ho-kago Tea Time?"

Ren replied, "Yes. My Senior and I bought it, since we wanted a place to live. The master is always picky on big mansions, since he's very rich. I only met him, since he was in third year. Sadly, we never have known each other, very well. In any case, this place is rich with history. You mentioned that the place was owned by the Light Music Club. Well, it was in this bedroom that they practiced together. Senior remodeled it, as the guest bedroom. Don't think he's kidding."

Steven smiled, "That is so cool! We're inside Ho-kago Tea Time's actual practice studio!"

Peter said, "Yeah. They even kept the window, for where the mixing boards were."

He pointed at the glass window, showing another room, and said, "See?"

Ren closed the curtain over it, and then said, "Not while you're changing. It's embarrassing."

Steven asked, "How so?"

Ren blushed, "It's my room."

He responded, "Oh. Okay."

Ren then bowed and said, "Anyway, I hope you don't mind sharing this room. The party will not start, until seven. I left a list of what you must do, at the party, for service. For dinner, I want you three to cook a turkey."

Peter said, "Uh, not to be rude, but there's no way we'll cook a turkey, by eight or nine."

Ren smiled, "It's okay. We recently bought a one-of-a-kind flash fry oven, which gets the job done in thirty minutes. You know how they cook a pizza in there? It takes 5 minutes for a 14-inch plate."

Peter said, in disgust, "Thanks, Julia."

Ren bowed and said, "Well."

She left, as she closed the door. Mizuki said, "We might as well change."

She entered a small closet and said, "Do NOT go in here!"

She shut the closet door, as Peter and Steven changed into their uniforms. Peter had to wear a black suit, while Steven wore his light brown tuxedo. He figured that wearing a white chef's apron is not good enough, since Peter's the chef.

Steven asked, "So, how come he chose you as the Head Chef? Steven Cooke has more experience than you!"

Peter said, "I don't know. It's luck. I once make a mean cheeseburger macaroni and a huge pan pizza, all at my own home. But Sis usually cooks healthy food and ramen."

Steven sighed, "I see… You are more of an oven-top man than a chef."

"What's that supposed to mean? Mizuki can't cook right, since she adds anything she sees."

"That's not true. You liked her chicken surprise."

"Yeah. But the surprise was that she used cheddar cheese, instead of Alfredo."

"Oh."

"Yeah. And she served it with rotini, too."

He put on his suit and said, "But now, I want to make something that has a little heat in my heart. I figured since I want my own stove, I can buy lots and lots of pizzas, burgers, and sausages."

Steven threw the apron at him and said, "You'll need this. Give it back, after we do our mission."

As the boys bicker, Mizuki was in the closet, changing into her maid outfit. She was in her white bra and panties, as she thought, "I wonder… What could Miss Mikihara be doing, while she is preparing the guests?"

She thought, as she took off her ribbon, letting her long red hair down. She said, "Maybe when the boys leave, I'll take a quick peek."

She then heard footsteps, from across the hall. She gasped, "Someone's coming."

She heard Atsunobu speaking to Ren, "Are the guests arriving?"

"Not yet, Senior. But it won't be long before we have the three out of this house, so we can continue our search."

"Indeed. Once we find the deed to this place, we'll record it and keep it for ourselves."

Mizuki gasped, "Hayashimizu and Mikihara are looking for a deed to this house? But that's impossible. They bought that house, thrice the price, as the original owners, Ho-kago Tea Time, owned it for."

She thought, "I better keep an eye on them… just in case…"

The Gang entered the kitchen, as Mizuki read the list. She said, "Okay. First, we need to make canapés. Steven, you help make the punch, while I help bake a cake. Peter will make the turkey, first, while Steven and I make the hors d'oeuvres."

Peter asked, "Which is it? Canapés or D'oeuvres?"

She snuffed, "Cute. Just get that turkey ready."

He sighed, "Yes, babe…"

He approached the turkey and read the cookbook. He then nodded, "This calls for a direct approach."

The SKIT Begins…

Chef Randy's Kitchen

Randy smiled and said, while by the turkey, "As a young poet says, "Nice little turkey; made in seven-thirty; well-cooked and done by eight o'clock. Today, I'm going to show you the proper way of cooking stuffing into a turkey. First, you need a huge 7 lb. yard bird, like this one. Some would prefer 12-pounders, for those who want a feast for Thanksgiving."

He then rinsed the turkey with a hose, and added, "Now, what you need to do is clean this bird, using a thorough washing and rinsing. You have to be sure that this bird is dead."

He finished cleaning the turkey, as he approached the ingredients, "Next, you add the most important items to your turkey. Here's how you make turkey stuffing, the SIMPLE way."

He held up two eggs and said, "One – Separate two eggs…"

He placed each egg at each end of the table. He said, "Now, put it in the turkey. But don't add the egg shells, unless you want it."

He then cracked the eggs and mixed the egg yolk in a bowl, with a whisk. He poured the runny eggs into the turkey and placed the bowl down.

He smiled, "Two – add two potatoes, diced."

He held up two huge spuds and said, "Of course, to make the diced potatoes, you need to use a knife. However, for me… I use a katana sword."

He threw the potatoes up and held the katana, crying out, "Shinu! Jagaimo wa sainome ni kitta!"

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
The potatoes were reduced into little cubes. He then added food coloring, and said, "There. Some use Cottage-fried, Russet-made, Julian, or boiled… but I use the next best thing."

He showed the cubes of potatoes, made to look like playing dice. He said, "I call this "Vegas-style Potatoes"! You know, for when you want to eat at that all-you-can-eat buffet table, and have the potato salad."

He put the potatoes in and threw a little salt inside, "Three – a pinch of salt. Sadly, I'd never berate myself to pinching an innocent seasoning."

He held up a bowl of oysters and said, "Kaloo Kalay! Four – half a dozen oysters, off the shell."

He removed the meat inside the shell and stuffed it in the turkey and said, "You don't want to add the shells in there. That stuff would hurt your teeth."

He spotted an oyster with a pearl and said, "Oh. Here's one that they didn't clean."

He took the pearl and put it in his pocket. He said, "I'm giving this to Mary. She's my girlfriend."

He finished, as he held up a can of tomatoes, "Five and Six – a can of tomatoes and a can of peas. Note: Remove the paper from the can, then break it open."

He removed the label from the can, and then ripped the cans in half. He poured the tomatoes and peas into the turkey, as he continued, "Of course, you can't add the metal, either. If you put that in the oven, you'd have a burnt turkey. By the way, to have your turkey cooked, set the oven to 425 degrees and cook for 8 hours. For a flash-fry oven, cook for thirty minutes at 650 degrees… and make sure that it is a golden bronze."

He read the book and said, "Back to the stuffing. Finally – a loaf of bread, well-soaked."

He held up a wet loaf of French Bread and said, "Make sure to dip the entire loaf of bread into a mixing bowl, full of water; but not too much dampness."

He stuffed the bread in, but then had trouble stuffing all the ingredients in. He used a plunger into the turkey and plunged it in, mixing it all together. He then said, as he held up a clove of garlic, "And now, we will you my secret ingredient to turkey stuffing – garlic. One clove will make the tastiest stuffing, in the whole world."

He used a ramrod and gouged the stuffing into a brownish mulch, from inside. He then used three stalks of leek and sliced it into pieces, into the stuffing. He continued mixing, and then pulled the rod out. He then zipped up the turkey and put it in the pan.

And THAT'S how you make stuffing – the WRONG way.

He continued, "And now, we baste this bird with vegetable oil… and by using a paintbrush."

He poured it all over the bird, and then used a paintbrush to spread it all out. He continued, until the turkey had a shiny glaze. He said, "And there we go. Here's a beautiful turkey, ready for worky."

He left, as he put it in the oven.

"And that'll be all for today…"

Mizuki began to mix the cake batter, as Steven spread crackers around, placing caviar on it.

Steven said, "So the evening shouldn't be a total loss. Once the guests arrive, we'll go in and search the house. By dinner time, we should be finished."

Mizuki asked, "Uh, Steven… Suppose one of us sneak around and listen on to Hayashimizu and Mikihara, and see what the fuss is about."

Steven said, "I'll do it. Once it is finished, I'll have the guests enjoy Steven Cooke's canapés. After that, we'll serve punch, tea, cake, and coffee. We'll fill up, before the feast."

Mikihara said, as she called from the door, "Excuse me, fellas, but the guests have arrived. Please begin servings the hors d'oeuvres and punch, and make it quick."

Steven said, "Right."

He said to Mizuki, "Make sure the cake is finish."

He grabbed the tray and left through the door, as Peter picked up the punch bowl and followed Steven. Mizuki began to pour the batter into the cake pan. She then put it in the oven and set the timer to ten minutes. She said that she'll continue, and make a swell seven-layer cake.

"I may not know it, but I am an excellent cook." She said, "All I did was add two cups of flour, one tablespoon of vanilla, and ¾ pounds of butter. And then I read through the cookbook on my iPhone."

She sat down, as Peter returned. He said, "Hey, Mizuki, you are wanted at the living room, serving refreshments."

Mizuki said, "Okay. Make sure that the cake is finished, and add more layers to the cake I am making. The batter is in the bowl. And add another layer to the plate, when finished."

He said, "I know what I am doing…"

She left, as Peter looked at the timer. He said, "Ten minutes…"

He sat down, as he waited.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, Steven served his caviar to the guests. He then turned to a man in a Stetson hat and shades. He said, "Canapés, sir?"

The man responded, "Sure, son."

He gasped, "I know that voice…"

He gave him the tray and shuddered, "Help yourself, but save some for the other guests."

He dashed off, as Mizuki stopped him. "Steven, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Steven shivered, "I may not know it, but… I think the guy in the Stetson cowboy hat is the Lone Stranger."

Mizuki viewed the man with the hat and shades, wearing a blue suit and dark red tie, with a United Kingdom flag on his sleeve. She thought, "Oh. He must be a British representative."

She said to Steven, "Why are you so worked up?"

He thought, "Huh."

He said, "Steven Cooke feels like I know this guy, from somewhere… He said to me-."

The man spoke, "Son, I like your canapés. But it needed a dash of chili."

He gave him the tray and then said, "See if you got something from home, dig?"

He left, as Mizuki thought, "Strange. Could Steven be telling the truth?"

He whispered to her, "You go get the main course ready, while I peddle with whitey."

Mizuki said, "He's over there, by the piano."

She went back to the kitchen, as Steven snuck away, leaving trays of food on the table. The man in the hat stopped him and whispered, "You go serve the guests. Leave that sucka to me, son."

Steven C gasped, "Uh… Who are you?"

The man responded, "What my name is is not of importance. Now, I'm not asking you-."

"I know. You're telling me. I'll go."

He winced away, as the man walked to the piano.

Steven C thought, "I swear I knew of him, before…"

At a small alleyway in Hane City, two construction workers viewed Asahi, who was in her purple overalls and glasses. They whistled and cat-called her, as she blushed. But one of them said, "Hey, sweetheart. You lost or something?"

Asahi said, "Uh… Yeah, I am. I was…"

She was nervous, as one of the workers said, "Hey, ma'am. If you need anything, you let your cute body tell us what to do."

Asahi then held a picture of Minami and asked, "Well… I'm looking for this woman. Her name is Minami Makimura – she's about 40, and she's an employee in Comic Party. Do you know where she is? Some of my friends know of her in this city. She has glasses, brown hair, soft tone, curvy body, and she often wears her uniform."

One worker, in a black vest, replied, "You know… We happen to know of a sexy woman, down the street, by Jem St. and PBJ Ave., around the corner, by the apartment complex. She's with other women, with such scantily clad attire. But that's what it is in Hane City – hot poon."

Asahi said, "Okay. You know, for guys who want to ogle at ladies, you're so helpful. Thank you!"

A worker said, "Anytime, Miss. While we may be slime, we're doing help for the good of duty and humanity."

She waved to them, and then left. Heather, who was watching on, was exhausted, "What a relief. For a minute, I thought I'd rescue her… But the van's right here, so…"

The workers called to her, as she growled, "Even so… This place is for the sleaze! Remind me to shower completely, to rub the sleaze off… many times."

Minutes later, Asahi arrived at Jem and PBJ, with a couple of women, slim, curvy, and scantily clad.

She thought, "This is just like the guys said. But which one is Maki?"

She approached some, as they ignored her. She said, "I guess some people are better off straight. This place does give me the creeps…"

A woman with long light brown hair called to her, "Hey, sailor."

Asahi called back, "Who, me? Can I help you, Miss?"

The woman approached her, as she was wearing her red top with black trims, while in a dark olive skirt with fishnet stockings. She walked slowly, in a monotonic movement, and blushed to her.

"Hello. My name is Maki. Wanna hang out?" She said in a robotic voice.

Asahi gasped, "Huh? It's you! Miss Makimura?"

Maki blushed and stared at her. She said, "Oh, dear. You seemed scared. Not everyone wanted to date a robot like me. I'm well-built and very aroused by you."

"Uh, no… I mean…"

She held her and said, "What do you say? How's $20 for a night together?"

Asahi said, "Uh… How about not?"

Maki smiled, "Nonsense. You give me what you want, sweetheart…"

Asahi cried, "I'm not like other girls! Miss Michelle, maybe, but not me! I'm not into other women!"

"Please?"

"NO!"

"Yes! Do me! Touch me!"

"Makimura, control yourself! You're not what you appear to be! And I'm almost at your age! In your age, you'd have a husband! But why now?"

"Oh, don't be a dear. Now, before I cuddle you, what's your name?"

"Miss Makimura, don't you recognize me? I'm Asahi Sakurai! The pop idol? The one you made me date Mister Sendo, only for inspiration? I gave you my new CD, for Christ's sake! Please, remember me!"

Asahi pleaded, as she was hugged tightly, "Comic Party! Remember? I performed there!"

Maki then grabbed her glasses and said, "Your face is kissable and soft. Allow me to remove your nerd glasses. They make you unpopular."

She took them off and was about to kiss her. Asahi cried, "NO! NOT THERE! AH! LET ME GO! MAKIMURA! HELP!"

Maki stopped, as she opened her eyes, while her lips are puckered. She then saw Asahi's eyes and gasped, "Huh?"

She stood up and asked, "Asahi? Is that you?"

Asahi panted, as she was freed from her grip. She moaned, "Miss Makimura… I'm glad you remembered…"

Maki kneeled down and said, "Aw, don't be scared of me. Just because I'm an android, it doesn't mean that I can be scary. Besides, I am still me, despite what I now am."

Asahi asked, "And you're okay with it?"

"Oh, yes. I never felt so alive and young, as a very automated woman. And I get paid for it, too. I'm a very sexy woman, in my steel chassis."

"How did it happen?"

She paused, and then said, "No. Miss Minami. Before I ask, I want to know… Are you Akai Kādo? There were five Sailor Senshis, acting rogue in Crystal Park, and I believe she was behind it. I'm not pointing fingers… but… I think it might've been you…"

Maki thought, "Akai Kādo… Akai Kādo… Akai… I…"

She asked, "Me? Are you saying I'm the evil woman?"

Asahi nodded and replied, "That's exactly what I meant."

Maki then said, "Asa-."

She suddenly froze in place, before she could answer. She was standing, with her right hand up. Asahi gasped, as she held her, "Miss Minami? Hello? Minami?"

She gasped, "No… She can't die… not after everything…"

She shook her and cried, "POWER ON! WAKE UP! ANYTHING! WAKE UP, YOU LAZY WOMAN!"

She sobbed, as she was panting. She groaned, "If only I had more time… I'd help you…"

One woman in blue called, "Hey, are you communicating with Maki? Yeah, she takes ten minutes, every coin you insert her into."

"A Coin?"

Maki beeped, "Please insert one coin, to continue… Please insert one coin, to continue…"

Asahi gasped, as she was in horror, "She's like a humanoid vending machine…"

She shivered, "What should I do?"

Back at the mansion, Mizuki was finishing the cake, as Peter viewed the seven-layer vanilla cake.

"Wonderful. It's like a mountain of cake." Peter laughed.

Mizuki said, "Indeed. And all I did was mix the ingredients to make this tasty confectionary. Now, all that's left is to serve it."

"Any reason on the occasion?"

"I don't know. Miss Mikihara didn't say. But I'll have it down to the table, posthaste."

"Okay, babe. By the way, it's been a couple of hours, since the turkey is cooking. And the guy said that the oven takes thirty minutes."

Mizuki examined the stove and said, as she saw the switch was off, "Why, the flash-fry oven is not on. You didn't turn it on!"

Peter said, "I guess… But I cannot understand it. I did set it for 650 degrees."

Mizuki gasped, and then scolded, "Listen… Set it to 450 degrees. And if that turkey burns to a crisp, and ruins our mission, you're going to be the next one to broil in it! And I'll cook you with carbolic acid, too!"

He gulped, as she said, "Listen. I'll bring the cake out and serve to the guests. YOU start cooking the potatoes and gravy, and make it snappy!"

He said, "But the lady said that it has to be weak."

Mizuki fell in a THUD, and griped, "I DON'T CARE! GET GOING, RANDY!"

"Oh, alright!"

She left with the cake, as Peter said, as he grabbed a pot, "I don't know why we'd have a cake. He's so damn rich, he should've spent on a catering service, and we wouldn't be in this mess."

XXXXX

Meanwhile, Steven C was walking by, seeing Atsunobu and Mikihara sitting on the couch. Mikihara whispered, as Atsunobu smiled, holding his fan. Steven crouched down and eavesdropped on them.

She said, "Senior, should we have dinner ready soon? Once they are enjoyed, we should get ready for the search."

He said, "Indeed. We tried every area in this house, except Miss Hirasawa's room. There's a small safe she left behind, and she has what we needed."

"And then what?"

"The house is as good as ours. Of course, it may need some improvements. The self-portraits of the bandmates in Ho-kago Tea Time are far too rough for my being. But then again, maybe we can preserve these items, once we have everything settled."

"Oh, Senior. You're a genius."

"Yes, I am, Mikihara."

Steven C growled, "Damn you… Yui Hirasawa's room has the will. But which one is it?"

He left, but stumbled down to the floor. He moaned, as Atsunobu asked, "Sam, are you okay?"

Steven C smiled, "Oh, uh… Never better, sire."

He got up and laughed, "He, he, he… Me fall down, go thud."

He walked away, in embarrassment, as he thought, "Good gravy…"

Atsunobu asked, "Mikihara, do you think that he was spying on us?"

Mikihara said, "I don't think so. That's what you get, by incompetent service, around here."

Mizuki walked by, as she served punch and cake to the guests. She saw Steven and thought, "I wonder what made him jumpy."

The man in the Stetson whispered, "He knows."

She gasped, "Uh… What is it? You scared me!"

He said, "He knows about the deed… but it's not what you think."

She asked, "Sir, please… Do you know what is going on?"

He remarked, "Girl, I don't mean to be rude, on account of your hot body, but I sincerely suggest that you leave it the hell alone. It's already taken care of…"

He walked away, grabbing a cup of punch. He sipped it and said, "Not bad. Reminds me of passionberry and lemon-lime. That's my wife's kind of drink…"

Mizuki thought, "Passionberry and… Wait, the only person I know of that drinks passionberry punch is…"

She gasped, "Oh, no! It cannot be!"

She ran off, as Steven C went to the kitchen.

XXXXX

At the kitchen, Mizuki told Steven and Peter what went on. She said that a mysterious man was looking for the will, too. It turns out that he knew of another person who drinks passionberry punch, with a hint of lemon-lime: June Nevins, Steven Nevins's daughter.

Steven C said, "It couldn't be Steven Nevins. He was busy in England, helping to fix the worlds, alone. The last time we met him was at Daten City. And he told me that he's better off having me, fight it alone, with you guys."

He stated, "But there's more to it. Steven Cooke learns that Atsunobu Hayashimuzu and Ren Mikihara are going to Yui Hirasawa's room and find her safe. But I never got to the room, since there are too many people here."

Peter gasped, "You haven't?"

He stormed off, "You go on ahead and finish the main course. I'm going upstairs and investigate. I hope."

Mizuki said, "Hurry back!"

She and Steven started to sniff, as Mizuki asked, "Hey, do you smell garlic?"

Steven C said, "I don't know, but it feels very… delectable…"

They gasped, "THE TURKEY!"

They ran to the stove, but Steven C stopped, holding his foot. "Oh, gum on my shoe. Just my luck!"

Mizuki pulled out the turkey, with her hands, and placed it on Steven's back. He screamed in pain, as the turkey went to the table, as he bent up. He turned around, as Mizuki comforted him, "You okay? Sorry about that."

Steven C viewed the bird and said, "Well. Steven Cooke never saw a cute bird before. Look at that!"

The turkey was not golden brown. It was completely brown, all over. Mizuki said, "That's Peter for you. He cooks a turkey, and he makes it into a brownish hen."

The turkey was also bigger than before, but by about one inch. Steven held up a knife and fork and said, "We'll have some slices prepared, and off it goes."

She shoved him away and barked, "Get away!"

He was slammed to the wall, as Mizuki barked, grabbing his collar, "Listen you… If Hayashimizu and Mikihara find out we carved that bird, before dinner, we'd be thrown out, and not get a chance to Yui Hirasawa's room, before them! Are you out of your mind? What's the matter with you? That turkey belongs to those people! Now, don't let me catch you, see you, or do anything, again, to a turkey!"

She continued to scold and yell at him, as Peter was heading upstairs.

XXXXX

Moments later, Peter sneakily entered upstairs, as he looked around the seven rooms. The main room in the middle was Hayashimizu's room, while the first room on the left hallway was Ren's. The second room on the left hallway was The Gang's room, for visiting. He examined each room on the right hallway, as he found the second room on the right, viewing a portrait of Yui Hirasawa and her guitar, Gita. He then said, "This must be the place."

He thought, "Good. A Heritage Cherry Sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard… That's Yui's trademark guitar, aptly named Gita. I'm just a bit worried that it was destroyed, alongside her and her friends."

He looked around the room and thought, "Now, if I were a safe, where would I find it?"

He then stumbled a bit, kicking down a guitar case. He said, "Maybe…"

He opened the leather guitar case and saw what was inside. It was Yui's guitar, Gita.

"NO WAY! She left her guitar here? What gives?" He griped, "Dude, plane crash or not, there's no way that she'd leave her guitar here, and fly away! And, what the wha would someone give their guitar a stupid name like "Gita"?"

He moaned, "But where's the safe?"

The man appeared and asked, "Son, what did I tell you about interfering in Yui Hirasawa's room?"

Peter gasped, "YOU! The guy in the hat! What are you doing upstairs? You know that the master cannot have you here."

The man said, "I'm looking for the safe. I see you're looking for it, too. I had to go use the bathroom, and decided to make my search, here…"

Peter said, "Well, show me who you are, and tell me why you want the will of Ho-kago Tea Time?"

He replied, "Why should I?"

He held up a gun and said, "If you don't, I'm arresting you for trespassing in a man's home. I don't care if you are British or not, bra!"

The man smirked, as he said, "I see… Then you should be thoughtful, Peter Giese of AAW…"

"Huh? Bro, how did you know my name?"

"Simple. I know all my friends from The Gang, in the past. And, son, you know me…"

"No… Steven Cooke was right. You're…"

He removed his hat and shades, showing his brown hair and goatee.

Dynamite~!
It was Steven Nevins! But why is he here?

"Long time, no see, son," he said.

To be continued…