Chapter 1383. School Festival Day 2 / Shareholders benefit

No problem

Edie came out of the break room.

Thanks, how was it?

I ask as I remove the first batch of baked bread from the oven.

Megu and Ai are also doing their job in the bakery.

n.o.body suspicious around school as far as Im concerned

Its the school festival today so the students are much more buoyant than usual, and many of them arent wearing uniforms because theyre going to sell, or do some band performance.

Even so, Edie judged that n.o.body was suspicious based on their behavior in the surveillance footage she saw.

Anju will continue watching the surveillance system, shes a good one so shes already mastered the system perfectly

Is.h.i.+gami Mizukis former bodyguard, Kurose Anju.

Tsukiko read Katsuko-nees memories and Edie taught her how to use the monitors, so she could use them already.

Shes a girl whos thorough with her work so it should be fine to leave it to her. Tsukikos staying in the break room, watching Kurose Anju.

There were some weirdos around the mansion, right? But we dont have them in school? Then that means

After checking the pastry, I fill the pad with only pastry that has no problems.

Theyre enemies, but they dont know who we are

The fact that they came to the mansion means that the enemy knows about the Kuromori family.

However, they dont know how many people are there, and that some are attending this school.

How much does this enemy know about us?

Thats what Im worried about.

If theyre using old information, then it would be that the Kuromori mansion is a high-cla.s.s brothel for the political and financial VIPs

However, if they know details about us, then

If they know the connection to the Kouzuki house, or Misuzu, Ruriko, and other daughters of n.o.bility

We need to consider how to deal with them

I want to avoid making poor moves thatll give unnecessary information to the enemies.

Dont worry, I dont think they know much about our family

Edie said.

If they did, they wont be that nonchalant

Oh right. The enemy didnt know about the police and Kouzuki SS waiting on the road in front of the mansion.

But, maybe they just sent minions who didnt know anything on purpose just to see our approach

Im considering that possibility.

If thats the case, theres going to be a watchdog behind the people we captured. But there was n.o.body like that

Edie and Michi are similar, they can sense Qi in their surroundings.

If Edie says that, then I dont need to consider that likelihood anymore.

We also frisked the guy before giving him to the police. He had a smartphone and an audio recorder. so Mitama and I took it. But since they dont have any recording device that broadcasts live, theres no information leak. They didnt have any transmitter

Where are those stuff you confiscated now? What did they get to record?

We put them inside the mansion and handed them to Rei-chan. Dont worry, we already cut off the power. We arrived late at school because we were doing that

Kinosh*ta-san and Rei-chan are at the mansion, and Kyouko-san and Anya are there, so they must be a.n.a.lyzing it now.

Rei-chans coming here with Nei and the girls, and we can always communicate inside the mansion and in the bakery anytime.

Okay, thanks. As expected of Edie. You didnt miss a thing

I praised Edie as I continue working.

Obviously, its your Edie after all

Edie happily said.

Then, Edie operates on an external monitor at the top of the wall.

The screen shows the inside of the cafeteria switched to outside the bakery, around the back entrance.

They should come now. Darling, theyre here

Oh, Katsuko-nees van is parking.

Rei-chans driving.

Shes the driver today so shes disguised by wearing a hat and sungla.s.ses.

I also see the one on the pa.s.senger seat.

Is Nei in the trunk?

Right, she brought some cosmetics for the tennis club girls. She should have a lot of luggage.

I look at the clock and its 25 minutes since the call earlier.

Nei and everyone acted on time as they said.

Megu, Ai, Ill help with unloading. Ill also get Mana to help here right away

They need a male helper there.

Okay

Well take it from here, Yos.h.i.+-kun

Hearing their replies, I head to the back entrance of the bakery

Im going too Darling

Edie followed after me.

I opened the rear entrance and Rei-chans car just finished parking.

Onii-chan, Ill help inside now

Mana got off the pa.s.senger seat and she was already wearing her ap.r.o.n.

Yeah, please do

We pa.s.sed by each other and she went inside the bakery.

Ill return to the mansion immediately after the luggage is dropped off.

Rei-chan on the drivers seat told me.

I dont think that Ruriko, Agnes, and the girls have already finished making their pastries at that time.

Rei-chan kept the engine on so she could depart right away.

Sorry for making you do all these roundtrips Rei-chan

Dont mind it. Im happy that I can do something to help out, besides

Rei-chan whispered.

There are no problems on Minaho-san or the mansions side, have fun with the school festival

Thats

Shou-neechans sending Kouzuki SS for Minaho-neesan already?

I also whispered back.

No, Kouzuki SS wont be involved this time. Thats whats decided

Huh, then

There should still be no problems

Rei-chan smiled at me.

Everything is according to Minaho-neesans plan then?

I knew that Minaho-neesan was doing something and leaving us out of it.

Using the national news appearance to give us an alibi that we were inside the school for the festival today.

Kouzuki SS isnt involved on purpose either.

The reason is that Minaho-neesans actions would be a crime.

Kouzuki SS wont be moving, but Shou-oneesamas ready to respond immediately, just in case. Dont worry

Shou-neechans on standby at the main office.

Ill hear the details later

You should ask Minaho-san instead. Shell return by evening

Okay, Ill do that

Im still a bit worried, but

I have to focus on the school festival today.

Yo-chan, help me!

The sliding door of the van opened and Nei took out a huge bag of cosmetics.

Oh, its the bag Katsuko-nee took to the hotel room when Misuzu and Ruriko gave flowers at the Russian film festival party before.

The box at the back is heavy! Those are all cosmetics!

Box?

Oh yeah, there are three huge cardboard boxes.

And next to the box is

Morning, Kou!

Marikos there.

Shes not wearing her uniform, but instead, shes wearing a white one-piece dress since its Sunday

I have come

What?

No, I thought I mentioned that girls from n.o.bility cant come to our school festival!

The security had to tighten up, thats the reason why Misuzu, Ruriko, Sakurako, and Karen cant come here.

Oh? But Im okay though, Im not a daughter of n.o.bility! Kukuku

Err.

Sure, Marikos Torii house isnt from the n.o.bility.

But still, her mother is from the Kanou house, one of the big three

Thats why Mariko, whos not from the n.o.bility, was allowed to have a bodyguard with her in school.

Geez.

That aside, I know that were busy

Oh right.

Ill take the two, take one of the boxes Darling

Edie stacked the boxes and lifted them.

Neis holding Katsuko-nees cosmetics.

No, dont push yourself, Edie, theres three so the three of us can carry one each

No, this is heavy, Mariko will break her back

Yes, I cant carry those

Is it that heavy?

Many of them are also in gla.s.s bottles so you cant drop them, Kou,

Trying to lift one of the boxes, yep, this is heavy.

I see. Many of the cosmetics are liquids in bottles.

And to think that Edie can lift two boxes easily.

I quickly took it to the temporary terrace where the tennis girls are gathered.

Hmm.

Wait, Mariko, these three boxes are

Yep, these are mine

Mariko laughs again.

I thought of coming here today but, Nei-oneesama sent a mail

Nei sent the mail not just to Kana-senpai but also to Mariko.

But, that was an hour ago, right?

Right after we left the mansion in the van.

I could come here in an hour, I had my driver go to this school. I met up with Nei-oneesan at the back gate

Marikos house has a chauffeur car since shes the daughter of the president of a large company.

But, it was only 25 minutes ago that I decided to bring some cosmetics and such.

The womens tennis team makeup a.s.sembly was decided just a short time ago.

Oh, it just happened. Kana and I get along. SO, for Kana, I mean, I just thought of bringing some presents to the tennis girls who also helped Kou this time

Right, Mariko and Kana get along.

Then, Kana-senpai loves branded and expensive cosmetics.

But still, three boxes of these

If Mariko prepared some presents, then it would be some expensive cosmetics.

That means that this cost a lot.

Dont mind it, its okay. Ill explain later

But still

I feel sorry that Mariko spent her money.

Just hurry up, everyones waiting for us

Mariko told me with a smile.

Yeah, lets do that

I took the heavy box from the car.

Mariko closed the vans side door.

Then, after parting from the car

Reika-oneesama, thank you

Mariko thanked her.

Yes, good luck. Ill be coming over again to see whats going on

Rei-chan drives off the van.

Thanks for the help, Im going to borrow the corner of the cafeteria to do the makeup for the tennis girls

I carried the heavy cardboard boxes and Katsuko-nee looked and thanked me.

Nei and Edie had already taken their luggage inside the cafeteria

How is it Katsuko-nee?

I explained to them and they understood

He gave the details to the tennis girls about the national TV coverage and apologized for informing them so abruptly in the morning.

Now thats over

The girls wearing matching tennis clothes look satisfied for the time being.

But, the atmosphere seems to be filled with anxiety and antic.i.p.ation.

Then.

Hey everyone, Kana, I came over

Mariko in her white dress shouted at Kana-senpai.

Huh, who?

Whos that girl?

The school festival hasnt started yet.

Outsiders cant come to the school yet, theres a stranger here, so the club girls are showing a suspicious look.

Oh? Youre here already Mariko?!

Kana-senpai didnt expect Mariko to come at this time

Hos.h.i.+zaki-san, whos that girl?

Kana, isnt it bad to bring someone from the outside?

The club girl seniors approach Kana-senpai.

Oh my, Im one who got all three boxes of cosmetics here just for all of you!

Mariko purposely emphasized it.

Kana, hurry and introduce me to them

Kana-senpai

Well, you know, shes a friend outside the school

Best friend!

Mariko speaks sharply

Kana, were best friends, right?

Well, my best friend, Torii Mariko-san

Kana-senpai said. She had no choice.

h.e.l.lo once again, Im Torii Mariko

Mariko introduces herself to the tennis girls with grace.

Then.

Kana, whats the next part?

Theres none

There should be, like, my family

Mariko says it herself

Is it okay

That makes it easier for them to understand that way, right?

Mariko smiled at Kana-senpai.

Torii Mariko-san is like, Torii Electronics, you know, the huge company, right?

Torii Electronics is a world-renowned leading manufacturer of electrical appliances in j.a.pan.

Shes the daughter of the president of Torii Electronics?

My father is the president, and my grandfather is the founder!

Mariko puffs her chest.

Shes that kind of rich girl.

Even if Kana-senpai explains it, the tennis girls are looking at Mariko with dumbfounded faces.

I guess the image of a girl suddenly appearing and telling them that shes the daughter of the president of a global company doesnt connect in their head.

Thats right, Im what they call an Ojou-sama And, I brought some presents for being so good to my best friend, Kana

Mariko looked at me.

You can put the box there and show whats inside to everyone

I did as told and put the box on the floor and opened it.

Wow, its packed!

Wait, isnt this one really expensive?

That cute bottle over there, I saw them go on sale just last week!

The tennis girls all got captured by Marikos high-cla.s.s cosmetics.

This box and the box Edie brought in. All three of them are for you girls

Mariko said with a smile on her face.

T-This is bad, Mariko!

Kana-senpai

I mean, these are expensive, right? This or this, wow, this ones expensive but a popular foundation! This is impossible to get!

Why, Kana?

Mariko asks back calmly.

Well, this is bad

Whats bad about it? We just got too many so Im giving it away

Mariko said the tennis girls are surprised.

They send some to me every month. They just deliver so many. Thats why its acc.u.mulating

Send?

Deliver?

Acc.u.mulating?

Kana-senpai and the girls cant understand what Marikos talking about.

Im a shareholder sowell, its a little different than the so-called normal shareholder benefits where the company gives you tens of thousands of yen per year. I own a huge percentage of the companys stock. Thats why they make sure to send me the products theyre selling now and the new ones theyre launching

Eeeh? Wait a second. Marikos father also owns the cosmetics company in addition to his job at Torii Electronics?

Kana-senpai asks.

No! Father doesnt do stocks, hes busy with his work at Torii Electronics. Im the shareholder!

Speaking of which, I heard that Marikos learning how to do stocks from Kaan Momoko-neechan.

I own shares from various companies. Like I own stocks on three cosmetic makers right now. Thats why we have three boxes here. The three companies send me their products every month

Mariko said.

Im a major shareholder so I check how well the products are doing. If I find a bad product, then I make sure to tell the company that sold me. But, three companies kept sending more and more so Im having a hard time keeping up with the pile

Then.

So, I thought that it would be a huge help to the girls who are usually helping out Kana

But, Mariko, you couldve just handed it to your friends at school instead of us

Kana-senpai who was happy to receive the high-end products from Katsuko-nee seems to be put off by the number of cosmetics shes receiving this time.

This wont do with girls in our school. They sure are getting the same products as I am

Marikos right, the school she goes to is only open to the young ladies of n.o.bility and wealthy daughters that Jii-chan screens.

I mean, the daughters of the founders of these cosmetic products are also students of our school. I cant just give these away to the students if theyre there

Oh right, this company is one of the old ones. This was from the Meiji era if I recall correctly

Kana-senpai saw the company logo on the product inside the box.

Oh, sorry, I only brought j.a.panese manufacturer cosmetics. As expected, foreign companies dont send one to me all the time, just sometimes

Sometimes, so they still do.

T-This girls a celeb!

W-Wow

Kana-sans best friends with her too!

The tennis girls are speechless, but they have figured out that Marikos the real deal

Katsuko-sans going to apply makeup to them, right? Then you can use these as much as you like. You wont know what they do until you use them after all

Mariko told Katsuko-nee.

Yes, thank you. Ill use them

Also, you can bring home whichever you like. Im giving all these to you girls

Mariko emphasized it once again.

Mariko-san, help us do the makeup for the girls too!

Nei comes from the cafeteria and shouted.

Katsuko-oneechan, Mariko-san, and me! The three of us can cooperate together and well finish sooner!

Yes, please do, Mariko-san

Katsuko-nee also asked for Marikos help.

Yes, if youre okay with me. But Katsuko-san will still do the final check. They might not like the makeup I do on them

Mariko said cheerfully

Yes, you need to balance the whole thing so the girls the two of us will make up will still need to show it to Katsuko-oneechan and make adjustments

Nei said.

Its a bakery terrace cafe for the tennis girls, so its a bad idea to make the makeup too flashy.

Katsuko-nee will do the final adjustments.

Well then, lets go to the cafeteria!

Nei calls the tennis girls.

Kana, you need to get in shape

Mariko taps Kana-senpais chest.

R-Right, were getting Katsuko-san to do our makeup in turns so we can prepare to open the terrace cafe while theyre at it!

O-Okay!

The tennis girls replied.

Now they can stand proud when the TV coverage comes.

Thats one of the problems fixed.

Well use the school year and alphabetic order. Those who are free can start working. Marikos giving them later anyway so dont think about it for now! You dont have time to pick what you want right now. Were not going for first-come-first-serve! If theres a lot who want a single item, then well be deciding with rock-paper-scissors by the end of the day

Kana-senpai gave instructions.

Darling, lets go back. Theyre good now

Edie came over and said.

Yeah, we should

Katsuko-nee, Nei, Mariko, and Kana-senpai will be okay here.

I also have my place to be.