"Oh, hi there, Shion." The clerk at the desk said as she looked up at her.
"Hi." Shion smiled at her. "I was hoping you'd recognize me."
"Well, the hair did throw me off at first." The clerk giggled. "It's a good look for you."
"Thanks." Shion blushed. She was wearing the same double ponytail Rosa gave her the day before. "Rosa convinced me to have my hair like this, and I like it."
"I see she has good tastes." The clerk nodded. "Speaking of, Ms. Ushiromiya is still out if you're looking for her."
"Oh, I'm not." Shion held up a shopping bag. "I'm here to drop off a little surprise for her. I hoped I could get a key to drop it off."
"That would be fine." The clerk made a cardkey and handed it over. "Just be sure to return it after you're done."
"I will. Thanks." Shion smiled as she walked to the elevator. She stepped inside and went up to Rosa's floor.
Shion reached Rosa's floor and went into her room. It was midday, and she saw the staff had already fixed the bed. She smiled as she placed the bag on top and put a folded note that said something on the top.
"The two of them might hate me for this, but I think they'll love it too." Shion giggled. Shion was getting ready to leave until the phone rang. Deciding it could be something important for Rosa, she picked it up. "Hello, Rosa Ushiromiya's room."
"Oh, thank god." The woman sighed. "Someone new and who works there."
"No," Shion raised an eyebrow. "I'm one of Rosa's friends. Who is this?"
"Another one of her friends?!" The person raised her voice. "Are you like the disrespectful one I talked to earlier this morning!?"
"I'm not even sure who you are." Shion looked at the phone. "How would I know any of that since I wasn't here earlier."
"Look, I'm Rosa's sister Eva, and I talked to a girl earlier who yelled at me," Eva explained.
"Oh, really?" Shion glared at the phone now, remembering what Rosa told her about her family. "And what exactly was so disrespectful that my friend said to you?"
"When I told her who I was and that my husband owns one of Japan's biggest fast food chains, she yelled, saying I just married someone and didn't do anything to be successful today. Now tell me how,"
Eva stopped as Shion started to laugh hysterically. Eva clenched her teeth as she gripped the phone tighter.
"I can't tell if Rena or Satoko told you that!" Shion kept laughing. "That sounds like something either would say, especially to someone who deserves it!"
"Deserves it!?" Eva screamed.
"Well, let me guess." Shion took a breath. "You said something disrespectful about Rosa, right?"
"All I did was point out the obvious that she's an embarrassment to our family name!" Eva responded. "I don't,"
"I figured it was something along those lines." Shion cut her off, no longer laughing. "Word of advice, don't be surprised to be called out when you act like such a bitch."
"I've had it with you disrespectful brats!" Eva somehow screamed even louder.
"And judging by what you told me, we've had it with you." Shion kept a calm tone as she continued. "All of our friends would have the same reaction talking to you, and none of us would put up with it."
"I don't care what you have to say about me!" Eva screamed back. "I'm,"
"And we don't care what you say about us." Shion raised her voice a little as she clenched her fist. "But if you're going to disrespect one of our good friends, we'll have a problem."
"Oh, really?" Eva laughed. "And what's your plan if I come there and go up and tell Rosa how worthless she is to her face while you watch?"
"Hmmm." Shion tapped her finger on the stand. "Well, if you did that and didn't listen to us trying to tell you to get lost, I'd probably pull out my Taser and use it to shut you up."
"I don't take kindly to threats, you brat." Eva stopped laughing.
"Who said it's just a threat?" Shion pulled out her taser and activated it next to the phone for Eva to hear.
"What is wrong with you people there!?" Eva's eyes went wide as she could hear it.
"You call up your sister and yell at her friends while also saying your sister is worthless and an embarrassment, and you're asking what's wrong with us!?" Shion started to raise her voice as she sat the taser down. "If anyone has a problem, it's you!"
"I don't," Eva started to yell back.
"I'm not done!" Shion yelled even louder. "Rosa is one of the sweetest and most caring people I know! If that makes her an embarrassment to your screwed-up family, then you're absolutely right about her!"
Eva gripped the phone tight as she heard her continue. No one had ever spoken to her like this, especially in defense of any of her family members.
"And Rosa will be successful without you or any of your screwed-up family!" Shion smiled. "Now keep that in mind, you…"
Before Shion could continue, someone grabbed the phone and pulled it out of her hand. Shion's eyes widened as she jumped and quickly turned around, seeing who it was.
"Eva, it's Rosa," Rosa said, holding the phone to her ear. Shion just stared at her.
"About time you showed up!" Eva continued to yell. "Now, about these so-called friends of yours, I'm…"
"They are my friends and care about me." Rosa cut her off. "Which is more than I can say about you, Krauss, or Rudolph."
"What's that supposed to…" Eva tried to reply.
"Only one family member has ever treated me respectfully, and that's Battler!" Rosa slammed her fist on the wall. "He was the only one willing to stay and help raise Maria and the only one of any of you who came to visit for both Christmas and her birthday! None of you even sent a damn card to my daughter!"
"Well, I…" Eva stuttered as Rosa continued.
"And that's forgetting that your older brother Krauss has refused to give me my share for years despite being the one always to babysit all of your kids whenever any of you wanted!" Rosa started to tear up. "That includes all the times I had to watch George when you went on your husband's business trips where you weren't needed!"
"I…" Eva tried to say something but stopped.
"Well, I finally found people who care about me, and I don't need your help to be successful!" Rosa sniffled. "You want me out of the family so you can have the money Krauss was never going to give me!? Fine! Try begging that bastard and see how well that goes!"
With that, Rosa slammed the phone down. She then picked it back up and dialed a number.
"Front desk?"
"Hi, this is Rosa Ushiromiya." Rosa talked in a calm voice despite the tears in her eyes. "I hate to bug you, but could you hold my calls from now on?"
"Absolutely." The clerk replied. "We'll call you telling you who's calling from now on before transferring any calls."
"And if it's from someone named Eva, can you," Rosa tried to ask.
"Not accept any calls from her in the future?" The clerk cut her off.
"Yes…" Rosa slowly replied. "How did you know,"
"She's been harassing some of our workers recently." The clerk explained. "We're sorry you had to deal with that and want your experience to be positive while you're here."
"You're all amazing…" Rosa sniffled again. "I'm sorry my sister harassed all of you…"
"Oh, that's no issue at all." The clerk replied. "Is there anything else we can do for you today?"
"No, that's it." Rosa wiped her eyes. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." The clerk said before she and Rosa hung up the phones. As Rosa sniffled again, Shion ran up and hugged her.
"I didn't know things were that bad." Shion sniffled, tightening her arms around Rosa.
"I'm sorry you had to deal with her." Rosa hugged her back.