...Our demands, hm?
Kimura responded to Shin's statement by moving her three main tabs out in front and taking a breath.
...I guess this means we're starting with Kurosaki.
Manager: "Representatives of Shiraishi, Kobayashi, Kurosaki, and the minor businesses, thank you for holding these three simultaneous meetings with us. I am the Operator of one of Border's B-Rank squad and former Operator of Tsukiko Yuki's first former squad, Kimura Kawaguchi. Currently, Border is trying to maintain the peace in Mikado City once more by acquiring the cooperation of the other organizations. I would like for us to continue based on that assumption. And..."
She inhaled, raised a hand in her heart, and spoke from her throat.
Manager: "Shiraishi, Kobayashi, Kurosaki, and the minor businesses... Border would like your cooperation. I would like to start by discussing that."
"Wait."
Murakami heard a deep voice cut in.
He saw an old man standing in front of the committee heads on the right. He was fairly certain his name was Saitou Tonbo. He walked toward them with folded rectangular panels on his back and he stroked his beard.
"I understand you would like our cooperation. I understand that quite well after you expressed your policies during an earlier conversation I had with your directors. But that is what you want. What we want is something else."
Saitou called out to Shin.
"Boss, tell them what it is that Kurosaki wants."
.
Kuro-Shi: "Eh!? Wh-what we want? Wh-why do you have to ask the impossible!? No one ever told me about this! What is going on here!? You can't do this!"
WorTri: "Um, wait! What are you doing, Saitou-san!? Please stop showing up late just to say things we didn't discuss in advance! What are we supposed to do!?"
Tonbo: "Ehh!? Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so, sooooo sorry! Umm, PR Committee Head! Send all the information to the CEO right away!"
Kimura saw Kurosaki's response.
CEO: "Heh heh heh. Members of Border... My business is currently preparing for another battle against Taiyōko. And on a different front, Sekai there is enduring scrutinization from Kobayashi. No, I will say from Mogami only... Do you know why that is?"
Yes, thought Kimura.
...I do know.
Manager: "Kurosaki has realized that even with the parents no longer alive, there is someone who will continue to fight, so you are including their affairs with your own."
"That's right," added Akashi.
Secretary: "After the Taiyōko parents death, the older sister began to do as she pleased since was aware of certain situations. There was a hard ban on using Triggers against anything not a Neighbor or in a secure location, but was fine since she would do things a 'normal' way, Shiraishi got involved, and it led to a business battle."
But...
Secretary: "Even though that ban only meant something for Taiyōko, she continued onward since it would lead to more fighting and gained influence in those businesses. And during her punishment by different things, their issues had lessened. The same is true for others, so multiple business gained plenty of approval there."
Perhaps that meant the businesses were simply good at dodging blame. Or perhaps Taiyōko's influence had been unable to fully reach too deep into these companies. But...
"That is bad news for the current three businesses."
If the three nations sided with Border now, they risked having to face something similar to then or having restrictions placed on them when Neighbors invade again. Also...
Secretary: "The Kurosaki family fought against the Taiyōko family in different locations other than Mikado City. After those battles, they were ordered to move to other areas and their influence reduced. And of course, those order came from the victors: Taiyōko."
Kimura knew that.
Their influence was settled once during the parent's generation and again by Kushikage after their deaths. Those were two different versions of Kurosaki's influence.
Kurosaki was doomed to have their influence reduced as long as someone from that family continued to be around. So they could not afford to back down even now.
...If they did that, they might get their influence reduced twice.
Demon Child: "Don't worry. ...We can solve all of this through fighting."
Manager: "Dammit! This time! This time I won't do it...!"
Haru: "Is it just me or is Kawa-chan getting more and more hopeless?"
She unfortunately had to agree. But Kurosaki was not the only problem.
Manager: "You mentioned scrutinization from Mogami. Mogami-san, don't you have something to say about this?"
"That's right," said Yoshiko as she listened to the festival music in the light of the sun. "Kobayashi and Shiraishi don't care too much about Taiyōko's decision. After all, we do thing necessary to everyday living, so our influence is assured. But..."
Yoshiko raised her cup and Denji poured sake into it.
"After everything, Yoshiko was a part of a different company. Yoshiko has to get back at them for Sōichi, jeez. That's right, I said it!"
"I can live such a stress-free life with you around, Denji."
"You're making me blush, jeez!"
"Ah," said the Sniper before quickly inputting herself into the chat.
Mad Hatter: "Um, Kimura-san, you can't say anything about Denji getting a denki anma!"
Manager: "Please, Hiura-san. Stop making me laugh while I'm trying to think."
She has a low boiling point, thought Yoshiko, but she continued speaking. She took a sip of her drink and enjoyed the heat of the sake on her throat more than the flavor.
"I guess that cat is out of the bag as well. The last secret I withheld was my standing with Mogami Sōichi and how that factors into things. Then again, it was something I had to announce to secure my position here today. I am just glad Akio-san and Naoko-san are so understanding," explained Yoshiko. "However, that brings me to what we are talking about here...that being my second loss because of Border. Do you know what that means, Minoru?"
"Yes. After your losses, Border has opened up freedom from Neighbors and companies are left to sponsor it. But..."
Yoshiko responded to Minoru's look with a smile.
"Mogami-san, how far out are you looking?"
"Eh?" said the Sniper with a tilt of the head.
Minoru started to say something.
"—"
But he closed his mouth and looked away, so Yoshiko smiled.
"Minoru, you have thoughts of your own as higher ups, don't you? In that case, you can say it then. I generally enjoy seeing people struggle."
"Um, what are you talking about? ...Will something happen to Mogami-san or Kobayashi's future?"
When the Sniper asked her question, Minoru glanced over at Yoshiko and Denji twisted around with a troubled look.
Yoshiko smiled bitterly, sighed, and told them to calm down.
"The thing about Kobayashi is...I will be leaving them rather soon, so any grudges will be taken with me and they will happily join your side once more. ...My selfishness here was granted by them, so I will not be causing more trouble for them."
"Even though you worked so hard to find your child and gained so much influence!? Wait a minute!"
The Sniper inputted her thoughts in the chat.
Mad Hatter: "Um, Kimura-san! Isn't there anything we can do about that!?"
I know what you mean, thought Kimura. Kobayashi had a decent foundation, but they had allowed someone like Yoshiko to show her selfish desires and confront Border while also representing them as a business. That was due to Yoshiko's political skill and decision-making ability, but the issue of what had been loss had been unavoidable.
White Fox: "This becomes a bigger issues when considering what the names means to some people... She is connected to a big named person as well as a former leader of the ones who 'greeted' us recently."
Manager: "To add to that, Kobayashi seems to care about and place some importance on Mogami. According to what we know, Mogami personally helped out the Tamakoma branch before as well."
Black Wolf: "That's right. After Border split itself to create the Tamakoma Branch, they had received a nice sum of support. ...And according to a footnote, the one who vouched for them the most was anonymous."
"But," said Kurauchi from down the stairs. He was likely monitoring their surroundings for security purposes because his patrolling footsteps could be heard with his voice. "Mogami still lost so much and holds something against Border."
When he added "she failed to stick the landing", the Ōji Captain looked up from the top of the stairs.
"Kurauchi."
"Yes, I know. ...That is the way of people who have lost something opportunity to something they do not understand."
"No, I was going to mention how kind you are to worry about someone other than Border members."
Kimura trembled.
...What is this atmosphere!? Is it true teamwork!? And Suzaku-san and I are in between you two! Should you really be doing this now!?
But no one else seemed to notice and the screen displayed a comment from Mizukami.
Shōgi Boy: "Shuryō died and's a Black Trigger now, right? If he's technically on the Wanderers' side now, that means Mogami doesn't have any relatives left..."
That's right, sighed Kimura.
Manager: "But that is why Mogami-san is free to act. She has no reason to stay and look for him, so she can do whatever she wants. ...That's what it means."
Black Wolf: "Then when Mogami-san started firing yesterday before you called out to them, was that a change in her mental state?"
It isn't just that, thought Kimura.
Manager: "It was Jin-san and the Falcon."
2.7 Maime: "..."
This was going to be a cruel thing to say, but she could not get this started without saying it. It had to have been the same for Yoshiko, so Kimura relaxed her shoulders and continued.
Manager: "Shuryō defended you before being taken. ...But that wasn't because he knew he would survive getting taken. Isn't that right, Mogami Yoshiko?"
At seeing that line in the chat, Jin gave a bitter smile toward the screen on his phone.
"Jin..."
The voice that came from his side grew closer until it was right next to him.
He looked over to see Konami giving him a soft glare from right next to him.
"Don't think about things that have already happened and don't look at things that haven't happened yet."
"You don't need to worry about that. Every time I even try to look into the future right now, it's gone in an instant. ...You know what the means, don't you?"
"Shitokei is too kind on you. Preventing you from looking into the future is the bare minimum she is doing right now."
The two looked over at Kizaki, the one who had spoken up. Next to him was Director Rindō, who seemed to be very busy with the way he was typing on a laptop with his tie undone and glasses slightly leaning to the side.
With the three business meeting going on he was left with little time. As far as Jin knew, the branch directors were having a harder time with this than the ones at the main Border base.
Yagura and Suzunari had sent out their members while Hiyama is getting some questioning because of Sekai-san. Everyone else just seems to be busy clearing up that the branches are on the side of Border.
Jin had wanted to ask Konami about the reason why Sekai had shown up on the side of Kurosaki, but she kept her mouth shut the entire time. Without his ability to see into the future, he was left trying to figure things out normally.
The issue with that was Konami herself. She had not given an inch about Sekai's reasoning, even her gullible nature had not gotten her to say anything about it.
Realizing he would be getting nowhere with the girl, he instead turned back to the meeting.
Then a hand came over his phone. He looked up to see that Konami had not stopped glaring at him.
"Um, Konami-san, Jin-san kind of needs to keep up with what is going on. Can you please move your hand?"
"No. You haven't agreed to not think about the past or the future. When you do that, I'll move my hand."
"I can't really help what I see with my Side Effect or what comes back to mind."
"...That's not what I'm saying, you idiot. I'm telling you not to keeping thinking about those things. Mei-san has you locked down from the future, so you are on,y hurting yourself by trying to look." Konami softened up to a single sigh. "But if you stay on the past for too long then..."
Then what?
He noticed the way she had looked up to where Kizaki was stationed before looking back down at him. She had moved her hand, allowing him to see a new message in a completely separate chat.
What that message said made him want to run. But...
"You aren't going anywhere."
A pair of strong arms wrapped around his neck while a pair of slender arm quickly grabbed his two wrists.
Wisteria: "Secret Technique: TaKiKo Hammer Hold Lockdown. Jin Stupidity Version."
Something smashed through the nearby window, breaking the glass and scattering it everywhere. With his Side Effect shut down due to Mei's calculations, he had been unable to see the attack coming and could only watch as it came.
What looked to be a toy hammer had burst through the window with a frightening amount of accuracy as it continued its forward momentum. The target was now locked in and could not escape. The only place it could directly hit without crashing into the two people ho,ding him down would be his face.
Knowing he had very little time to react, he struggled as much as he could.
If I can just get a bit to the side...!
Moving his arms was difficult, but manageable. His legs had also been trapped from the knees down with Konami having her own knees on them.
As he began his movement starting with his arms, he noticed something strange.
There's no pressure on my head and neck now!?
Kizaki had seemed to release his hold at the same time Konami jumped back from where she had been placed.
The reason for that was clear.
"Crap...!"
He could not escape the toy hammer anymore.
.
Wisteria: "I am expecting a clear hit."
Tamakoma's Muscle: "A perfect hit."
Konami smiled on the inside when she saw Jin fly off the chair he was in after getting hit by the toy hammer.
It was only after the sound of a body hitting the floor did Director Rindō look up from his laptop to see what was going on. His immediate response was...
"...TaKiKo combo attack?"
Both Konami and Kizaki nodded in response.
Director Rindō let out a tired sigh and head shake before turning back to his screen.
"Just make sure to clean up the glass."
Wisteria: "Tell Rindō-san I will pay for a new window and that I am sorry for interrupting him."
Doing as told, Konami relayed the message. This time Director Rindō only gave a thumbs up.
With that settled...
She looked down to the ground. The sight of Jin twitching on the floor with a large red mark on the right side of his face was indeed a sight to see, but she knew she had to do something else right now.
At times like these, there was only one thing to do for him.
"Just because you couldn't go see Mogami doesn't mean you should not trust Minoru with this. If anything, he is more qualified than you are. He can understand the situation without having something dragging him down because he understands it. ...Now get up. You look like a cockroach and it kind of makes me want to crush you."
Seeing that he was not going to get up, she began to lift her leg.
She ignored the fact that this could give him a view up her skirt in favor of crushing him like she promised.
Just as she was going to bring her foot down with her entire strength, a hand came up from the floor to catch her.
"You really shouldn't show someone what's up your skirt like that."
"I don't want to hear that from a skirt flipper."
She looked down to him now instead of at him.
"Are you done now? Can you keep up with this meeting or will I need to ask Mei-san to personally come over?"
"Alright, alright. We don't want to wake up that sleeping lion, right? I'm getting up. And I promise that I won't dwell on those kind of things anymore."
Konami could feel a smile come to her face as she placed her foot on the floor.
Now that this was settled, she was sure that she would not have to clean up any more glass.
And...
"You really should show someone this kind of thing~ I didn't think you could have such pink underwear."
She knew she could gladly kick his face.
"That is correct."
Hiura saw Yoshiko smile with her eyebrows raised. But...
...That wasn't why?
She knew Yoshiko did not have a simple personality. Looking at her history and yesterday's battle, it was obvious she could do harsh things, but she seemed endlessly kind to her own.
She's a mother, was how Hiura viewed it. But Shuryō and Sōichi were the greatest of Yoshiko's own, the older one had been before she could find someone to equal that, but why had the younger one defended her?
"You mean it wasn't because he didn't want to see you hurt or taken away and lose you to the enemy?"
"Akane...that is most likely correct, but you have it in reverse." Minoru sighed next to her. "Shuryō was as stubborn as they come, wasn't he? ...If he did get taken away, he assumed you would be unable to let go, didn't he?"
"Then...?"
"Shuryō understood and believed that Border would ultimately solve things due to Sōichi-san. He knew people had to side with Border, at the time just some group, and everything would be handled through civilized manners. And so he felt someone else needed to oppose Neighbors."
"That would mean..." muttered Hiura as she realized the meaning of Falcon's first appearance. "Shuryō-san really cares for Yoshiko-san, didn't he? If he was worried what would happen to everything after he was gone, he was essentially worrying for Yoshiko-san. That's why he defend you and did even more, isn't it? With him dead now, he had to tell you to oppose Neighbors..."
Oh, thought Hiura. So that's why that Falcon stayed stationary during the attacks yesterday. That was a message he wanted to leave before the Falcon had to go to Abe Ruri. As for why...
"Shuryō-san wanted you to remain just as strong and cool as you had always been, didn't he?"
"Sniper, you enjoy romance, don't you?"
Yoshiko smiled, but slowly covered her face with her fan.
She then took a deep breath and released a trembling breath. After that, Kobayashi's representative filled her lungs once more.
"Even as a boy, Shuryō also loved that sort of story. He was always begging me or Sōichi to tell them."
She laughed.
"Let me tell you a story now that Shuryō and Sōichi are gone. It is the story of Mogami Yoshiko. I will show you how the one who lost so much acts. That is the way of 'Mogami'. ...What about the rest of you?"
"We of the White Rock Corporation..."
Shobu heard a voice. The dance time had ended and they were now in White Rock's great hall which contained a stepped platform.
About ten meters in front of her, Ruri sat in a chair atop the platform. A pouch for necessities sat in her lap and she held it in both hands.
"...naturally hope to establish an amicable relationship with Border."
It was a short statement, but it held great meaning.
...That means...they will side with...Border...
Just like Kobayashi, Shiraishi had become a great company of Mikado City and was choosing their long-term benefit. They were looking at the rules established by Border more than the influence established by Taiyōko. But...
Secretary: "That phrasing does not mention when they hope to establish that amicable relationship. And 'hope to' implies some conditions must be met first.
"But," added Akashi and Shobu understood why.
No one around her had reacted to Ruri's statement.
The members of the minor businesses had been sent from the hall earlier.
Only Musashi, Chisato, and the committee heads were here. They were all the Shiraishi family's inner circle. They were all here for the meeting, but none of them was tense in the slightest.
There was only one explanation.
And Ruri gave that explanation.
"As you know, the Shiraishi family will soon be quite busy. ...Including our cooperation with other companies, we must go through the process to take care of my friend Shuryō in Mogami's place. Once that is complete, we can begin focusing on working with Border."
...I knew it...
Ikoma spoke quietly while standing behind him on the right so he could protect him at a moment's notice.
"So her memories are being mixed up."
Manager: "But, well, this was expected."
Kimura spoke.
Manager: "In the previous negotiations with my father and the others, they had concluded that they did not need to take into consideration anything unrealistic that Abe Ruri-san said."
...I see... thought Shobu with a mental smile of relief.
...That may be true...
The "reality" that Ruri saw was not the same as the one everyone else saw. She did not remember Shobu even after meeting him twice before.
Negotiations could never progress if they took her statements at face value. So Shobu could only think one thing: ...Sorry...
...Mogami Shuryō-sama must have been...important to her...
They were discussing things with the knowledge that Shuryō had been taken and was now dead. Shobu had to avoid thinking they were deceiving Ruri, but it was true they were leaving her behind for their own convenience.
Was he too soft if he felt guilty? But...
Manager: "Sorry, Tenryū-san. This business with Abe Ruri-san is placing a real burden on you."
Shobu: "...Um, no, I-I don't...mind... ...Ru...ri-san...will speak with me...whenever I see her..."
And...
...This reminds me...of my mother...
He had not been told about what happened to his mother until he had asked. Everyone had been thinking they were being nice, but it hurt to once that he had to force it out.
So it would be sad if she stopped speaking with him, but that was not the point. Even after losing her memories, Ruri would still speak with him each time they met, so he did not mind.
The burden was on Ruri. She had lost her memories and the person she most wished to speak with was no longer on Earth. Or even alive. So...
...Is there anything we can do...for her...?
As soon as he wondered that, a message appeared around his neck.
Shiraishi Family Network: Transmission from Kotowari Musashi
They intended to hold a second meeting without Ruri. As the representative, he had to accept, so he quietly did so and the line connected.
Musashi: "Looks like you've connected. I'm so grateful I might just cry. Anyway, we'll be holding the real meeting here. Got that?"
Shobu nodded and Kimura's words appeared on this chat as well.
Manager: "Right. We will leave this decision up to you, Shiraishi."
That signaled the beginning. They were looking to the three businesses and Border's futures, and Kurosaki and Mogami had already given their opinions. And now that Shiraishi was giving theirs without Ruri...
...It's really beginning...
With that thought, Shobu quieted his breathing as Musashi's voice gave the opening statement.
Musashi: "Now, allow me to give Shiraishi's view."
An emotionless voice spoke beyond his held breath.
Musashi: "The Shiraishi family's division will obey Ruri as our future boss. All of our decisions will be based on what she hopes for. They come from a time when Shuryō still around, yet after this recent invasion, and not from the current environment. In other words, it is all based on the way things were awhile ago. That is all."
For a moment, Shobu did not understand what Musashi meant.
...That means...
They would view Shiraishi and the other businesses as they were from two different times mixed into one.
That meant they were viewing Border from two different times put into a single time.
"Then..."
Their decision was one of rejection.