Torii-san asks sullenly as we get in the elevator.

「 Yeah, there are two more children to talk to. They're children that came with Tendou Otome and the others 」

I explained it briefly.

「 Those are girls too? 」

Torii-san glares at me.

「 Yeah 」

「 So, why are the two in a separate room? 」

That's…

「 Well, the girls in that room, other than Tendou Otome, since she just clings to Tokuda Sonoko-san and didn't let go. Anyway, Tokudsan and Kurosawsan can't return to their hometown because of the Kansai organizations, and so they will work as prost.i.tutes. You get that, right? 」

「 Yes, I get it. Not that I agree though 」

Torii-san replies aloof.

「 Also, you heard about the young ladies of the Kurama house, right? The elder sister, Misato-san will become a prost.i.tute to earn for her family, but… 」

「 The younger sister, Arisu-san is too young that she can't become a prost.i.tute, but she'll be sold off instead, right? I can't agree with that either 」

I have no need to persuade Torii-san though.

「 Ah, wait 」

But, she's fundamentally sharp-minded.

She noticed what I'm trying to say.

「 Those girls are also too young. Therefore, they can't become prost.i.tutes… 」

「 Yep, that's it. Don't you feel sorry if you place girls who'll receive different ends in the same room, do you? 」

The daughters of Yakuza have a complicated relations.h.i.+p too.

Tendou Otome is the bossy one on the center and the three girls bow their heads to her while bullying the others.

n.o.body's in good terms, or should I say that they never relax with each other.

「 So, are you selling those girls off as slaves too? 」

Torii-san looks at me.

「 No, I won't sell them. I'm taking them 」

「 Taking? 」

「 Yeah, as my s.e.x slaves 」

At that moment.

Torii-san tries to slap my face.

But.

「 Calm down 」

Michi grabs Torii-san's hand.

I also sensed Torii-san's Qi and moved immediately.

「 Stop it! Didn't you hear what he just said?! 」

Torii-san screams in anger.

「 Of all things, why are you making them your slave?! I mean, what does it even mean?! What do you think of women?!! 」

「 Oh? If Kou-sama didn't take them, they will split apart and sold off to rich pedophiles 」

Tsukiko speaks gently.

「 Compared to that, don't you think it's better if the sisters are together and under Kou-sama's custody? 」

「 Sisters? 」

Torii-san looks puzzled.

「 Yeah, the next room has Rie and Eri. They're twin sisters 」

I replied.

◇　◇　◇

The elevator opens.

Yeah, I remember this floor.

「 The same room from last night? 」

I asked Kinos.h.i.+tsan.

「 Yes, that's right 」

「 Then I know where it is. Thank you, Kinos.h.i.+tsan 」

I thanked Kinos.h.i.+tsan who led the way.

It's the room next to the monitoring room Minaho-neesan used last night.

It's the nap room, it has a shower room inside.

「 Then, I'll stay in this room, just call me when you need something 」

Kinos.h.i.+tsan enters the monitoring room with a smile.

「 What's with that person? She's smiling despite hearing all of our conversations 」

Torii-san speaks ill of Kinos.h.i.+tsan as soon as she's gone…

「 She's a specialist on the underground society work in Kouzuki SS 」

I said.

Kinos.h.i.+tsan was a former Banbarubie 3 member.

She took lessons from Barbie-san and Ruby-san about the underground world.

「 Therefore, she'll pretend that she didn't hear anything and she'll never speak of anything even when asked 」

「 How can you say that? Even if she's from Kouzuki SS I'm sure that she'd speak a lot when there's money involved 」

Torii-san who is in a bad mood starts deprecating Kouzuki SS.

「 That's not true 」

「 Like I said, how can you declare it like that?! 」

Torii-san shouts at me.

「 I worked with Kinos.h.i.+tsan for a few occasions, she's a professional. She'll never betray us as long as it's within the contract 」

I saw her during the combat with Cesario Viola in the hotel.

「 Then, if the contract's null she'll quickly turn traitor, is that it? 」

Torii-san speaks ill-tempered.

「 Kouzuki SS will renew their contract with Kinos.h.i.+tsan before that happens. Talents like her are hard to come by. Kouzuki SS will never let people like her go, even if that means increasing their bonus 」

Besides, Barbie-san's order is to have her go to Kouzuki SS.

Kinos.h.i.+tsan will stay here as long as she can learn.

「 Talent? That woman looked like she's careless, uneager, her body's thin, and she doesn't look like a bodyguard at all. She's at her high-school, right? 」

「 And that's why she has the talent. Torii-sama, the fact that you didn't notice it is what proves it 」

Tsukiko said.

「 What do you mean? 」

Haa.

「 Actually, Kinos.h.i.+tsan has a babyface. 」 Besides, she has a cute appearance. Ordinary people will see only that, but… 」

She's a monster who swings that heavy and hard pulverizing flail with her delicate looking body.

「 I've seen Kinos.h.i.+tsan take down 30 Yakuza alone with her fists 」

It was during the Takakura shrine incident when Jii-chan made a deal with the Yakuza.

「 You're lying, aren't you? 」

「 It's the truth 」

Following what I say, Michi;

「 Master never lies 」

「 That's the lie 」

Torii-san glares at Michi.

「 No, it's true. Kou-sama's an honest man 」

Tsukiko said.

「 Yomiko, Luna, Koyomi-chan and I all feel at ease when Kou-sama's close to us 」

That's…

「 Ordinary people can't help but have different thoughts from their speech. We can see the lies in the words, even from our fathers 」

Tsukiko speaks a bit sad.

「 However, Kou-sama's words are exactly his thoughts. Kou-sama only lies only when he must do so, but, we know that he does that out of his love for the family 」

Right, it doesn't mean that I don't lie.

I speak out lies when I have to.

For example, I'm not actually Agnes' Papa.

「 And because Kou-sama's so straightforward, we can feel at ease seeing other people's minds. We stay by his side in peace 」

Tsukiko said.

「 Agnes-san too. Kou-sama influences her the most, and so she's growing to become a girl who never lies 」

Speaking of which, she really is.

Agnes always says what she thinks, and it shows on her face.

She doesn't keep secrets. She doesn't speak lies.

「 And since Luna and Koyomi-chan lives with Agnes-san every day, it influences them too 」

Agnes who has no two-sides lets Luna and Koyomi-chan feel at peace.

Agnes wants to get along with them from the bottom of her heart.

Mao-chan too wants to be best friends with those in the family.

「 And Kou-sama's the center of it all. Kou-sama's existence saved us 」

Tsukiko.

Right, someone who can read minds must be in constant pain.

Most of the Takakura shrine maidens have their minds fall ill.

「 It's not just with people who can read minds 」

Michi;

「 We also can feel at ease because Master's here 」

「 What are you girls talking about? I don't get it 」

Torii-san complains with a displeased look.

「 Could you explain it further to me? I mean, I didn't even get what you're trying to say 」

No, that's…

「 Sorry, I don't think Torii-san will get it 」

I replied.

「 Those unrelated can't understand 」

Even so, Torii-san;

「 And that's why I'm telling you to explain it to make me understand?! Did you forget? Kaan Momoko-oneesama had me go here! You're accountable for me! 」

No.

「 I don't think you'll understand no matter how much we try to explain to you. I mean, it's not like we can explain it, nor we want to 」

I…

「 Torii-san, all you have to do is report to Momoko-neechan what you see, and what you know. Besides, even if Momoko-neechan sees us as cruel people, I don't really care 」

Our circ.u.mstances and position in our lives are different.

There will be a gap between mutual understanding no matter what.

「 What's this, you're running away? 」

Torii-san feels it that way.

「 No, it's not that 」

「 You're evading me 」

「 That's not it. Torii-sans looking from up high. Higher than us 」

I said.

「 Therefore, I can't explain it in a way that it'll reach Torii-san's height 」

「 What?! I don't get it 」

Then.

「 It's basically “If you've never eaten while crying you don t know what life tastes like.” 」

Tsukiko said.

「 I know that line, it's Goethe, isn't it? 」

Torii-san replies.

「 You may understand the meaning but you'll never fully understand it if you don't experience it personally 」

Personal experience.

Those who had the personal experience can perceive it.

Is that so?

「 Someone smeared in mud will only focus on their emotion and complain about the one who isn't 」

I said.

「 In the end, Torii-san, you don't like the fact that we're turning Sonoko-san into prost.i.tutes, or that we're erasing Tendou Otome's memories, and also the fact that the girls in the next room are my slaves? Do you feel angry? 」

Torii-san seems annoyed.

「 Yes, that's right! Isn't that obvious?! 」

She looks at me angrily.

「 This isn't something you should do to others! You're all the worst! I won't forgive you!!! 」

And she looks at us from far away where there's no mud.

「 We think the same. This is the worst. That this is unforgivable 」

「 Then… 」

「 But, this is the only way!!! We're doing the best of what we can too! 」

「 What's “best” there?!!! The best choice is to make everyone happy! 」

「 This is what happens because not everyone can reach that happiness! 」

n.o.body can give everyone complete happiness.

I'm doing all that I can with what I can do within my reach.

「 That's not true! You're just lacking in the effort! That's obvious! I'm sure it is! 」

Torii-san doesn't get it.

「 I mean, those girls are going through a horrible experience because of your selfish desires! That's definitely it! I know that! 」

She never had dirt in her hand.

She's not someone who spent her nights feeling only her temperature, alone, unable to see the future.

「 Hey, you're too noisy! What's with all that screaming in the corridor. 」

The door to the nap room opens and Nei comes out.

「 Ooh, Yo-chan, morning! 」

She looked at me and smiled.

「 Who's she? 」

Torii-san asks.

「 My elder sister 」

「 Huh? Your elder sister?! 」

Torii-san seem to remember Minaho-neesan who she met earlier

「 Just how many elder sisters do you have? 」

Torii-san who couldn't hold her anger to me earlier asks me.

◇　◇　◇

「 Oh, just when we were thinking that he's coming, right? Rie-chan 」

「 Right, Eri-chan, Onii-san, you brought another woman with you 」

The twins face us with a surprised look.

「 Ah, Onii-chan, morning! I'll prepare tea now 」

Mana looks energetic.

「 Did you girls eat breakfast yet? 」

I asked.

「 Nonono, Onii-san, you speak like a mother 」

「 Really 」

The twins laughed.

「 No, I mean it. Did you girls eat breakfast yet? 」

「 We did. It was in lunch box however 」

「 As expected, it's the lunch box from Kouzuki SS-san 」

「 Yes, it's much better than the lunch box Father gave us 」

「 Father gave us a nori bento after all 」

「 Really. Onii-san, we ate nori bento every day ever since we came to Tokyo 」

「 And the lunch box today has a lot of side dishes 」

「 And they all taste delicious 」

「 We ate so much for breakfast that we might not be able to eat lunch anymore 」

「 That won't happen. Eri-chan, you're a glutton 」

「 Right. I guess I'll eat lunch too 」

Err.

As expected, if it's the two of them doing that combo, they're lively.

「 So, Onii-san, who's this girl? 」

「 Is she another one? 」

「 The same as us? 」

「 Another s.e.x slave? 」

The twins said.

「 N-No! You're wrong!!! 」

Torii-san flies into a rage.

「 Oh? You're not? 」

「 Then what are you Onee-san? 」

Err.

「 ♪Minami yoko yokohaha! Hakosukaaa！！！♪ 」

Mana and Nei bring in tea while singing together.

「 We changed some of the words to not get in trouble~ 」

I don't get what Nei's talking about.

However.

Speaking of which, I wonder what she is to me?

Torii-san came to Kouzuki house as Misuzu's guests.

She's not really a friend of mine.

If that's the case.

「 Do you girls know about the Torii Electronics? 」

「 I do! I do! 」

「 I know it too 」

「 That's the company that makes a lot of appliances and stuff, right? 」

「 Even computers, right? 」

Oh, these two know about it because it's a huge company.

「 Well, this girl is the…president's daughter, right? 」

I asked.

「 Papa's a director of a holding company. Grandfather's the chairman!! 」

Torii-san shouts with an angry tone.

「 Err, what it means is that Torii-san is the daughter of Torii electronics 」

I explained.

「 Ah, I get it. That means… 」

「 Huh, Eri-chan, what did you get? 」

「 That means 'that,' Onee-san is… 」

Eri smiles.

「 She is Onii-san's next prey! 」

「 Ah, I see! I get it now! 」

H-Hey!

「 Still, Onii-san really loves to pick beauties as his coma 」

「 Right. Nei-san, Mansan, Ruriko-san, and Lunsan from last night and the three girls here now are all beauties 」

「 So, Onii-san, are these two already coma? 」

The twins look at Tsukiko and Michi.

「 Yes, we already are 」

Tsukiko read the thoughts of the two and understood what the word meant.

She shows a gentle smile.

「 W-What, t-tied up? 」

Of course, Torii-san who is a young lady doesn't understand.

「 It means exactly that 」

Tsukiko smiles.

「 And what is that supposed to mean? 」

Err, h-how do we explain this?

「 It's English. Commerce 」

M-Michi.

「 It means “transaction” 」

「 No, I get what “commerce” means You know… 」

「 These girls are asking if Torii-sama is Master's new transaction 」

Michi, you're good. Nice.

「 Girls, don't speak anything unnecessary 」

I warned Eri and Rie.

「 But you know, Onii-san 」

「 Right, Onii-san 」

But, the twins look like they're enjoying my troubled look.

「 That's as far as you go 」

Michi told the twins. Her words are loaded with Qi.

As expected, the twins shut up.

「 Oh right. This girl is Kudou Michi. And this one is Luna's elder sister, Takakura Tsukiko 」

「 h.e.l.lo. Pleased to meet you

Tsukiko smiled at the twins

「 Oh, she's Lunsan's elder sister? 」

「 Now that you mention it, they resemble each other 」

They saw Luna yesterday and so the twins accept it quick.

「 By the way, is she also like Lunsan? 」

「 Onee-san, are you Onii-san's s.e.x slave too? 」

Tsukiko…

「 Well, I wonder? 」

She laughs.

Torii-san looks at Tsukiko.

「 I've sworn my life to Kou-sama, and I do wish to bear Kou-sama's child. But, unlike my sisters, I cannot stay in the same place as Kou-sama's slave 」

「 Tsukiko's home is a shrine. Therefore, she has to inherit it in the future 」

That's all I tell them.

I can't talk about the details right now.

「 Oh, so that's why you're wearing a shrine maiden clothing 」

「 I thought that it suited her that it shouldn't be cosplay 」

「 She's the real one, Rie-chan 」

「 Yeah, she looks perfect in it 」

The twins agreed

Then.

「 I, Kudou Michi, aim to become Master's best slave 」

Hey, Michi.

「 Hey, aren't you Misuzu-sama's bodyguard? 」

Torii-san retorts.

「 I am Misuzu-oneesama's bodyguard and Master's slave. I yearn for both from the bottom of my heart 」

Michi declares.

「 W-What are you talking about? 」

Torii-san doesn't get it again.

「 Oh well, Mitchan's an M when Yo-chan's with her 」

Nei smiles wryly

「 Yes, I'm an M 」

Michi puffs her chest with pride.

「 Uwawa, Rie-chan, she's an M 」

「 I don't get that 」

「 She looks scary though 」

「 But, Eri-chan, she says that she's an M 」

Hearing the conversation of the two, Torii-san;

「 What does it mean? 」

Oh.

Right, she's a young lady.

「 Huh, don't get it? It's such a famous novel though 」

Nei smiles.

「 Novel? 」

「 That's right. It's in the elementary library. I read that when I was four 」

W-What?

「 Edogawa Ranpo's Denjin M Didn't read that one? 」

Denjin M.

「 I haven't. I never saw those in our library 」

Right.

That's the library for the super-high cla.s.s young ladies of j.a.pan.

「 Then go read it. You won't understand it unless you do. While at it, go read Tetsujin Q, Youseijin R, and Kyuukyoku Choujin R! 」

Nei laughed.

「 Well, it's better than starting with “The Caterpillar” or “A Brute's Love” 」

Michi said.

「 Mana loves the “The Traveler with the Pasted Rag Picture” 」

「 I like the “The Appearance of Osei” 」

Mana and Tsukiko even give their recommendations.

「 Err, what are you talking about Onee-san? 」

Eri asks.

「 Err, it's Edogawa Ranpo! 」

Nei laughs.

「 By the way, Yo-chan, you came here because you have business here, right? 」

Oh right.

「 Ychan, you heard from Rei-chan or Shou-neechan? 」

From what I can see from the twins, I don't think they know that their parents are dead yet.

But still, I'm asking just in case.

「 No, not yet. Onee-chan didn't tell me anything ahead of Yo-chan 」

Nei knows.

The reason why I came to the twins at this moment.

「 I see. Eri, Rie, listen to me 」

I look at the two.

「 What is it, Onii-san? 」

「 Oh, what's with this serious turn? 」

The twins look smiling.

But, they get it.

They can imagine what I'm about to say

「 It's about your parents, they've come back to Kansai and died 」

I resolved myself and tell them clearly.

「 Ah, I knew it 」

Eri said.

「 Of course, I thought so 」

Rie too.

「 They died, I see 」

「 Somehow, that was fast. Eri-chan 」

「 Right, they died too fast 」

「 Yeah 」

The twins accept their parents' death calmly.

「 Thinking that they're no longer coming back, somehow… 」

「 Right, I feel sad 」

「 I see. I feel refreshed though 」

「 Yeah, they were troublesome people 」

「 If we stayed with them, we would have no future at all 」

「 Yeah 」

The parents of the twins are sc.u.ms who use their daughters to sell videos of them to lolicon.

「 Didn't we talk about this? Where Eri-chan and I leave that family as soon as possible 」

「 Right. We planned where we ran away from them

「 And that once we escaped from them, we'll never see them again 」

「 Right. But if we escaped, those people would find us wherever we go

「 That's why this is okay. 」

「 Yes, this is okay 」

The two speak feebly.

「 I'm glad that I'm not seeing them again. I feel refreshed. I feel clean 」

「 Right, I feel like the burden's removed from me 」

Hearing the two, Torii-san.

「 Wait for a second you two! 」

Her nose is breathing roughly as she speaks.

「 Your parents died, don't say that you feel refreshed! I know what went on with you but they're still your parents! 」

The twins.

「 Right, they're our parents 」

「 The parents who made us suffer all the time 」

They look at Torii-san coldly.