I found myself smiling at the anised chaos of the m. Despite our midnight feast, which had been a rather amusing affair, Eri having still been up and also having been rather jealous of being missed out of the fun, only Shiro and Hinata managing to sole her by pointing out we would have ample time for as much fun as she wanted now she was healed, breakfast was being prepared, and my mom and sis were here, fussing over everyone.

  “You didn’t have to e, mom. We have our own house now.” My sis said, helping with breakfast, which was unusual for her.

  “Oh really, Ai dear? Couldn’t the same be said about you?” My mom said gently with a smile. Breakfast was a bination of Japanese aern, and smelt good. Shiro was sitting there eagerly, wearing her usual white jeans and t-shirt, legs crossed, and as mom put bowls of rice, miso soup, toast and ba in front of her, she smiled cheerfully.

  “Thanks mother. I appreciate it.”

  My mother actually squealed in delight at that. Wow, I thought that was something that never happened iy. My sis must have thought the same thing, as she rolled her eyes, embarrassed. “Seriously, mom…” she began, but mom wasn’t listening, of course. Yeah, Aiko is definitely mom’s daughter, no question…

  “It sounds so good, a beauty such as you calliher. I like you!” Mom said cheerfully, before frowning. “So… your own parents?” she said, surprisingly perceptive as usual.

  Shired, reag for her chopsticks. “I’d rather have you. And not just because you’re Aki’s mother. Mine are… well, put it this way. You’ve seen me on TV, right?”

  My mom nodded. “Oh yes, seeing you with Hyath, Shaeu and Aki on TV was something special. I just knew you were one of Aki’s girls then. Such a beauty, I’ve never seen someone seous. When I met you here for the first time I was stunned.”

  “Hurting my feelings here, mom…” my sis pouted, while Shaeu, who had also e down, haviurned from the Springs, our business safely cluded, let out an amused chuckle, winking at me and patting her chest. Yeah, yeah. You’re beautiful too, Shaeu.

  “My parents haven’t been in touch sinot that I expected them to. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of me.” Shiro said, a touch gloomy, before she shrugged again. “Not that it matters. I have Aki now, so screw them.” Her smile then turned menuine. “As for beauties, I’m hardly alone in that, am I?”

  “Yes, you’re right, Tsukiko-, wasn’t it? Wait, that doesn’t matter. I mean, it does…” my mom said, a bit flustered. “…but why would your parents ignore you? I mean, you’re famous, even if there aren’t maails about you out there. You’re one of the heroes of Britain!”

  “Calm down mom.” I said. “Shiro… the situation is plicated.”

  “Thanks Aki. But it’s not plicated at all. It’s simple. My parents are just selfish and shit. I was born with a very weak body.” She touched her silver hair. “Apparently I was a throwback to when powers like Aki and others have ed, so without the ether density required to sustain me, I ainfully fragile. It’s a miracle I lived long enough to see this day. The amount of mo was costing for my useless treatments as… my parents resehat. In the end they let me go off to Uy, o experience before I died and they were finally rid of me.” Seeing the pitying look on my mom’s face, she smiled, and this time it was genuine. “But rex, mother. Thanks to Aki and someone else, I’m healthy again, so you don’t have to worry about me dying off before the wedding. Now all I worry about is that my parents e looking for me for money. Selfish. So yes… I’m happy enough to have Aki’s parents as my own.”

  Mom looked at her, eyes shining with faint tears, before she nodded, giving her ara serving of ba. “I see. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask your mom, all right?”

  Yeah, mom’s a sucker for sad stories and cute girls. Shiro was always going to hit it off with her, despite being worried. I then rolled my eyes as mom’s thoughts caught up with her. “That reminds me, just where is Tsukiko-? Isn’t she awake yet? You didn’t do anything to upset her, did you?” She pelted me with rapid-fire questions, worried.

  “If I know my bro, he probably perved on her.” My sis said dryly. “I don’t think she’d have mihough.”

  Hyath was also cooking, and sooable was set for the rge number of girls we had in the house, as well as my mom and sister. It was then that Hinata sauntered in, freshly dressed in casual clothes, which wasn’t a usual sight for me. Meeting my eyes, she smiled beautifully, before strolling over to the table.

  “Good m Aiko-, mother-in-w. Motoko, Natsumi, Daiyu and Tsukiko are in the dojo, they’ll be here soon. you hold off on their food for a few minutes?”

  “Of course I , Hinata-.” My mom said, before narrowing her eyes. “You seem awfully different this m, dear. More… mature. Did Aki…?”

  Hinata nodded proudly. “He did, we did. A number of times.” She giggled. “I’m now the same as everyone else. Oh, except for Kana I guess.” She wi Kana as she sat in one er, a troubled expression on her face as she picked at her breakfast.

  “Tsukiko didn’t…” Kana protested, before flushing, realising that wasn’t the point. “Oh whatever, I’m taking it slow, someone has to!” She looked at me, her expression softening. “I’m heading back to the shrio pick up Asha, she stayed to be with her Tree. I’ll bring her back for the watch party, as well as a few others. It’s y day after all.”

  “Yes, I have invited Ichika as well-well, it has been too long. Karen too.” Shaeu grinned. “There may also be a special guest or two-two, but we shall see.”

  “Yeah, Hayato and the gang will be ing. And…” Shiro turo the interloper in the room, who was stuffing her face.

  “Idol activities use a lot of energy. I’m not one of those who starve themselves, boss!” the blonde fner Suzu-san smiled as she ate, missing the point. “I’ll more than work the calories off and keep my perfectly trim figure!”

  I suppose she’s living in one of the spare houses now, but that doesn’t expin…

  “That’s not my question. Why are you here Suzu?” Shiro was thinking the same thing as me.

  “Why not?” my mom ughed. “She’s cute as a button. I like her!”

  “No way, Suzu isn’t Aki’s type.” Shiro insisted, and as Suzu-san protested she was a chaste idol and couldn’t date, Eri came over, passing me a mug of tea, looking me up and down admiringly.

  “You look very good in that suit, Akio.” she said. “But is it the right look? Your hair is a bit messy, shall I style it?”

  I shook my head, taking a sip of the hot tea. “No, Arisu-san said they’ll do my styling and even makeup… who knew guys had makeup for TV too, huh? She said just to wear a suit suitable for meeting some bigshots or nobles. So I am. How was st night?”

  Eri sighed. “Mother and father drank way too much to celebrate. Father-in-w and randparents too. The only reason Mother-in-w Emily is here now is she held off. But they’ll be watg. Of course they wouldn’t miss it.

  “It’s going to be lively.” Kana said, ing over as well. “But when it’s done, your schedule is empty for a while, right?”

  “I’m gd someone’s is.” Shiro pined. “I have to go back with Kao pick up Asha as I o buff the Tree again. A buffbot’s life is never easy. I suppose at least the ether geed is worth it. Tan’s still shocked at hoidly you are pushing for Rank four.”

  “I think in all the excitement of the m we’ve got a little distracted.” My mom ughed, looking at Hinata again. “So, you and Aki, you did it together?”

  “Yes, we made love.” Hinata said proudly.

  “Damn bro, way to be a cradle snatcher. I mean, yeah it’s legal, but it still feels a bit… oh well, younger sisters are good too I guess!” My sis babbled nonsense as usual.

  “I am rather offended.” Daiyu said, ing in, followed by Motoko, Natsumi and Tsukiko. Motoko and Natsumi were in their hakama, with hair damp from a shower after their m training, while Daiyu was in her ese robes, and Tsukiko in casual clothing. As our eyes met, Tsukiko touched her mouth, blushing, which made Kana blush too.

  “After all, we are not dissimir in age, are we?” Daiyu sat down, and my sis shrugged.

  “Yeah, but you feel older, Daiyu.”

  “Are you saying I resemble a child?” Hinata sniffed, and my sis protested her innoce.

  “I didn’t mean it like that. But you have to admit, you have that youthful energy and attitude. Anyway… gratutions. Not that my bro ever would, but there’s no way he ditch you now, or your rich family will try and crush him, right?”

  “You got it.” Hinata giggled. “But I trust him pletely. I tell how into me he is.”

  The dining room was bustling now, the size of the mansion necessary for serving a family of our scale. As everyo down, Motoko and Natsumi also their help to mom but being told to rex, mom took bowls over to Tsukiko with a warm smile. “Here’s our other super beauty. Do you want tea e juice, Tsukiko-?”

  Tsukiko thanked her and took tea, but seemed a little unfortable being called Tsukiko-. “I am a little old to be called with such honorifics.”

  “Oh don’t say that, Tsukiko-, a young girl like you…” my mom began, but at our strained looks, mom leaned in and asked how old she was. Tsukiko looked at me then, biting her lip, and for a moment I thought she looked just like any irl, which meant that she was ging, which was a good thing. Mind made up, she leaned in and whispered in my mom’s ears, very careful to prevent my excellent hearing pig up on it. My mom’s eyes widened, before she looked Tsukiko up and down in surprise. “Really? I’m shocked. You look amazing. Your children are going to have good genes.” Mom looked at me, eyes sparkling. “I guess it’s good to have an older woman take care of you too, Aki!” She gave me a thumbs up, and my sis groaned, embarrassed, and I knew just how she felt.

  “I fear I am usually the one being taken care of. I do ly uand what it is to be a woman in a retionship.” Tsukiko touched her mouth idly again, face slightly reddening. “But I shall endeavour to learn. I certainly desire to be a normal woman, as much as I be.”

  “Then I’ll help you, Tsukiko!” Mom dropped the honorifitirely, which was a bit rude, but then she was a bit of a force of nature, and had a very British perspective on things. “If you want to ask me anything, I’ll be more than happy to help. Oh, and about your parents…” she remembered suddenly that supposedly the Diviner had been dead. Mom didn’t quite get it. My sis did though, she uands Kin Bonding more, a abreast of cve and the aftermath, due to her Favour and where it came from.

  “I will likely meet them soon. I have no anger or disdain towards them, but… it will be a difficult matter, to ge our retionship that has endured for many years.”

  “Not too many.” Mom corrected. “You’re as old as you look and feel, Tsukiko, and you look great. My son’s truly a lucky dog. I guess I raised him right?” She puffed out her chest proudly, and while my sis and I sighed, Suzu-san ughed, saying she was looking forward to living here. You don’t live here, you have your own house!

  “I will seek your sel wheime es. Though I would ask you to apasukiko asked me, and I agreed with a smile.

  “Of course. I’ve got to do the det thing and ask your parents for you.” I looked at Shiro then. “Yours too. We’ll finish it properly, just like we discussed before.”

  “That’s my Aki, a real dies man!” mom gushed, and I decided to ge the subject, as my phone had just pinged.

  “It’s Arisu-san. I have to get going soon, we have to go over our questions so we’re prepared before the interview.”

  “Yeah, upsetting Arisu is low on the list of things I’d advise anyone does.” Shiro snorted. “So best hurry off. At least the studio isn’t far, right?”

  “Yes, grandfather has a car ready.” Hinata agreed. “For us… there’s things to do before Akio’s on TV, right?”

  As I was leaving, Kana and Eri came over, Eri remindihat now things were calming down I owed her that holiday, and Kana demanded a date, after the events of st night.

  “Sure thing, I haven’t fotten Eri. As for you, Kana… yeah, you’re right. I’ll think of something. In fact…” I leaned in and suggested a pn, and her smile was bright, banishing the gloom she had been feeling.

  “Yeah, that’s great. That would be perfe fact. So good luck out there, but I’m sure you’ll do fi’s not the first time you’ve been on TV.” She ughed.

  “True, and this should be easy in parison. Arisu-san has everything in hand…” With that I said my farewells to everyone, having to kiss a lot of girls, even Kana now kissing me deeply on the lips, unwilling to be the only one having a chaste kiss. As my mother watched, bright-eyed, and my sis snickered, enjoying the embarrassment I felt at my family our intimacy, I sidered the meeting with Arisu-san. Yeah, if I show her up she’ll be angry, and I owe her too much to upset her anyway. So… I pumped my fist. Let’s go out there and rock this…

  *********

  After reag the TV station, I was greeted by several obsequious staffers, who quickly rushed me into a dressing room for preparation. They approved of my suit, and one made mention of my ch, but the cufflinks, shirt and tie were all sed out. They styled my hair and applied light makeup, saying that uhe camera lights it was necessary or I’d look pale. When I met their approval I looked in the mirror, and I did look better. Snapping a selfie I sent it to the girls and my sis, and mom too, despite my better judgement, and soon I was in a plush waiting room, where I met Arisu-san. Wow. That sure is something. I elled my sister in my thoughts as I saw Arisu-san, dressed and made up impeccably.

  “Hey, you tell you’re a movie star, you look perfect!” I approved, giving her a thumbs up. Indeed, she was standing tall with impeccable posture, unwilling to sit yet as it might crease her dress, which was a deep wine-red, b on purple, with a low-cut front, showing off her bodyline. She wore matg heels, making her already det height for a woman more striking, and pretty gold and ruby jewellery sparked on her fingers and arouhroat, and she wore a red and white flower or in her long dark hair.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]Arisu-san frowned. “There is o ftter me. I am a professional, or I was. I of course know how to look good. That is fual. Besides…” she pursed her lips which were painted a vivid dark red, also shading to plum. “…you get no be for fttering me. Save it for White and the others who would wele it.” She paused, frowning. “I hope Suzanne-san is not causing problems?”

  “Other than dropping in for breakfast unannounced? No, she’s fine.” I promised. “As for fttery, you should know by now I’m an ho man. Besides, I don’t need anything from you, just expressing my admiration.”

  She gave me a ft look, but decided to ge the subject. “I have had messages of support from White, Suzanne-san and even Bunta-san. But what matters is always how we perform.” Her expression softened a little, though it was still stoic. “I uand you agreed to this as a favour from me, but it should be you as well, so long as we ha properly.” Her dark eyes were intense as she expined. “You’ve read the question list I sent you?”

  “Of course, I’ve thought about my aoo.” I promised. “Though obviously I agree we have to coordinate on what to say.”

  “True.” she ceded. I went to sit down, but she tutted at me, so I remaianding. “The questions that will be us are on the uping charity cert, Britain, and perhaps the w ges. Unfortunately despite my best efforts, it was iable some questions would have to be asked. Such as our retionship. We o ahat carefully.”

  “I don’t think that’s such a big deal. We’re friends, right?” I said, and she seemed momentarily surprised I would say it so casually. “Well, aren’t we?” I arched one eyebrow questioningly. “We’ve helped each other a lot, I mean, you aided me in Kyoto and have looked after Shiro’s… well, Tan’s Territory all this time. I put people who could help clear your name in touch with you, and you supported me a great deal with my spatial experiments. We’ve fought together, so we’re at least rades, but I prefer friends. Don’t you think so?”

  After a moment she let out a long sigh. “White is a strange woman, falling for one such as you. Stop looking at me with such disappointed eyes. Yes, we are friends. I am not an ungrateful woman, I have a great hatred for such. But my point is that we met through White. Though there has been some media specution on her, your other friends in nobility and politics have preveoo mutrusive digging. From her medical records it would be easy to trace her, and her family…”

  “Yeah, Shiro’s worried they’ll try a ba her life now. But if they just want money, selling a story would be an easy way… I think maybe the nobility have pressured them to keep silent. I’ll move up dealing with them. Shiro wants closure too.”

  “I see.” Arisu-san’s stern tenance softened. “Good. White has suffered a great deal. I sympathise with having family and friends who are worthless.”

  “You alk about your family…” I mentioned, and she sighed.

  “That is a story for aime. Though they are not as pathetic as White’s.” she said, and I was actually gratified she hadn’t denied my inquiry. “So, back to the questions. There are obviously the usual softball ohough questions on our love-lives…” she sniffed. “I will shut mine down, but you wax lyrical about your many quests. It is not like you have kept it silent. Besides, romand dating sdals are siingly popur, as I well know.”

  “Yeah, it’d be iive to ask you. I’ll take over for that one.” I promised. “What else do we o watch for?”

  “I have guarahat the more difficult topics will be avoided, and there supposedly is anuest, an idol. Her band will be appearing at your cert. So there might be some questions about the music we enjoy as well. In any case, try and avoid anything problematic…” she rolled her eyes. “White has awful taste, so I assume you do too.”

  That hurts a little, but our hobbies are a bit esoteric, to say the least. “Yeah, I’ll be careful. So…” We tiize until a rather attractive female staffer came in to turn oV in the er for us, which showed us a view of the studio, where a male and female host were sitting, while a young woman dressed in sparkly idol clothes, short cy skirt covered in ribbons, sleeveless shirt and pretty waistcoat was sitting, waiting.

  “She’s from AKB48.” The staff member said. “She’ll be interviewed first for twenty mihen you two e in.”

  Arisu-san o her. “Very well. We shall be ready. You may leave us aur is time.” Her voice was cold and imperious, and the woman scurried off, face pale. Turning to me, Arisu-san advised me to watch closely, as it would give me an idea of the way the interview would flow. All right. Sure, I’ve been interviewed by a news reporter in Kyoto, and I’ve appeared in front of the world at the press feren London, but… this is very different. Fortunately I’m with a pro, so as long as I don’t screw up too bad, I should be fine. Grateful that Arisu-san was here, ign the fact I was only here because she had asked me, I watched at the interviews started with a bright greeting to the audience, and their first guest, Kanzaki-…

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