▣ KO-FI ▣ DISCORD ▣

Chapter 9: Meeting Rindo Akane

I entered a karaoke parlor in Akihabara.

I stood in front of the room with the number specified in the message.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to the room.

Immediately, the sound of karaoke music and a woman’s high-pitched voice hit my ears.

There was only one girl inside.

It was Karen.

I silently entered the room and sat on a round chair across the table from Karen.

Karen was singing a song by a popular female singer. It was a track that had become popular on the internet.

I didn’t want to interrupt her while she was singing, so I just listened quietly.

As the song ended, Karen turned to me.

“How about it? How was Karen-chan’s beautiful voice after such a long time?”

She said with a bright smile.

Seeing her smile like that, even I couldn’t help but reminisce about the “fun times I had when I was dating Karen.”

Although, towards the end, Karen had complained, saying it was “always either the arcade or karaoke, so boring.”

“You’re pretty good,” I replied noncommittally.

“Is that all? Don’t you have any other thoughts?”

“Other thoughts like what?”

“Like remembering the old days and thinking ‘Karen-chan, my beloved~’, or ‘I wanted to hug you impulsively’.”

The fleeting emotion that had just crossed my mind was blown away by her words.

“There’s no way I would think that. Besides, whenever I remember the past, it inevitably brings back memories of getting angry.”

I had something I wanted to ask Karen, which was why I came today.

But as much as I didn’t want to upset her and make things worse, I had to respond that way.

“Tch, what a boring guy!”

Karen reached for her drink on the table.

“You’re paying for this, right?”

“I suppose so.”

“So, why did you contact me? What do you want to know?”

Karen got straight to the point.

“Do you know who the judges are for the representative selection contest?”

“It’s the five Miss Jyoto Daigaku selected by Rindo Akane, right?”

She said it casually.

“Do you know them?”

“Why do you think I would?”

“Just a guess.”

I answered, but I was confident.

If Karen was connected to Rindo Akane and the judges were connected to Rindo, then maybe Karen knew them.

“Well, I’ve spoken to three of them.”

…That means those three are connected to Rindo…

I was certain of it.

“Can you give me their contact information?”

“Why? Planning to hit on them?”

Karen said jokingly, but she must have known that wasn’t the case.

“You told me to be careful before. It’s part of the precaution.”

“What’s in it for me if I tell you?”

“I don’t know if there’s anything in it for you, but it will definitely lessen the disadvantage for Touko-senpai.”

…Karen seemed to be pitting Touko-senpai against Rindo Akane.

That was the conclusion I had reached.

The reason for it was just my speculation.

Karen stared at me as if trying to read my thoughts.

I looked back into her eyes.

Finally, Karen chuckled.

“Fine, I’ll tell you. But there’s a condition.”

“A condition? What is it?”

Knowing Karen, she wouldn’t tell me for free… What kind of condition would she set?

“You have to meet Rindo Akane.”

“Me? Meet Rindo Akane?”

I asked back, surprised by the unexpected request.

“Yes, she wants to meet you. I’ve been asked to bring you to her.”

Why would she want to see me?

I was confused, but then again, this could be an opportunity.

By meeting Rindo Akane, I might be able to find out more about her intentions.

“Okay, when should I go?”

Karen then stood up.

“From now on. Rindou Akane knows that you and I are going to meet. She told me to bring you over right away. There’s not much time left until the representative selection match.”

Karen and I headed to Akasaka Mitsuke.

We entered a high-end hotel café (it might be a lounge, but it’s too fancy for me to be sure).

Spending the afternoon in such a high-end hotel café, Rindou Akane’s family must be as wealthy as the rumors suggest.

“Miss Rindou, I’ve brought him.”

Karen spoke to a gorgeous woman sitting by the window, who seemed to embody the word “glamorous.”

Her long hair dyed chestnut brown, partially covering one eye with her bangs. She wore a thin, purple dress that outlined her figure, the skirt’s slit cut deep, almost revealing her thighs. According to Karen, “Rindou Akane has her own image color, which is purple.”

I had only seen her in photos on the internet or from a distance (the last time at the café, I mostly saw her from behind), but seeing her up close, she was even more stunningly beautiful.

Without looking at us, she simply said, “Thank you for your trouble,” while sipping tea from her cup.

…Is that all she has to say after asking someone to call us here?…

It seemed Rindou Akane was accustomed to commanding others, almost as if it was natural to her.

I glanced at Karen, wondering how she felt.

But Karen didn’t seem particularly bothered.

“Well, then, I’ll be going now. You two take your time talking.”

With those words and a pleasant smile, she left.

It was unclear if Rindou Akane even noticed her smile.

“Stop standing and sit down. You’re in the way there.”

She spoke as if I were a servant or something.

Despite feeling displeased, I sat down in the chair opposite her.

On the table in front of us were a luxurious tea set, a three-tiered cake stand, a basket with scones, and more.

I wondered if this was what they call an English-style afternoon tea.

When I sat down, a waiter silently brought a new teacup and teapot.

It was milk tea.

During this time, I observed Rindou Akane.

It was my first time seeing her up close and directly.

Distinctive features, porcelain-like smooth white skin.

She was of Eastern descent, but had a foreign aura, different from Japanese.

Indeed, she was beautiful, different from senior Touko, but undeniably pretty.

She reminded me of a beautiful Chinese actress.

Wearing an unusual dress, her shoulders bare but adorned with elegant arm covers.

The top part of her dress, with a Chinese collar, was broadly laced. It looked almost like a gown.

And above all… her presence was overwhelming.

Just sitting there silently, yet it felt like she was saying, “I am different from you.”

Her presence was so strong it almost made it hard to breathe.

…I wonder if medieval nobility had this kind of aura…

That thought was inevitable.

“You must be Itsushiki Yuune.”

I asked, as if to confirm.

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

For the first time, Rindou Akane looked at me directly.

“I thought you’d be a rough-looking guy, but your features are quite handsome. I heard you switched from Kamakura Tetsuya to Sakurajima Touko, and it doesn’t seem entirely untrue.”

I frowned. What an unpleasant way to speak.

“Do you know Mr. Kamakura?”

I asked, trying to gauge her response.

She sipped her tea.

“We’ve slept together.”

“What?”

I almost choked.

What a thing to say to someone you’ve just met.

And with such casualness, as if it was no big deal.

“Men who think they’re cool are boring in bed. It wasn’t as great as they say.”

Her words were like someone commenting on a famous ramen shop not living up to the hype.

Scary woman. Talking to her for too long might be poisonous.

“What do you want from me?”

I decided to quickly ask her intentions.

“Follow my instructions.”

She said it as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Not something specific like “Give me information about senior Touko” or “Sabotage senior Touko in the representative selection match.”

…So she means to follow her orders in everything, not just one or two things?…

Seeing my dumbfounded look, Rindou Akane continued.

Please let me know if there is anything else you need translated or any other assistance you require.

“In the upcoming representative selection battle, Sakurajima Touko will lose. You seem to be trying hard too, but it will all be in vain.”

She said this with an air of confidence.

“Why can you say that so confidently? The representative battle is still to come.”

“Because I have that level of skill, in many ways.”

As she said this, she crossed her legs in a way that seemed to flaunt them. Due to the long slit in her skirt, a good portion of her thigh was visible.

“That’s why you should come under me while you still can.”

“So, you want me to sabotage Touko-senpai while pretending to be her ally?”

“You can choose the method, but if that’s what you think, then it’s fine by me.”

She said this as she picked up a small sweet from the top of the cake stand.

“Why are you asking me to do this?”

She put the sweet in her mouth.

“I’m not asking you. I’m showing you a path, a path that’s beneficial for you.”

“A benefit for me? What kind of benefit are you talking about?”

I asked, suppressing my irritation.

“I’ll keep you by my side.”

She answered with a suspicious smile, licking her fingertips.

I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Was this what you would call seductive?

At the same time, I felt a cold atmosphere.

It was like a small child whimsically wanting a pet.

Frozen, I listened as Rindo Akane continued.

“I’ve become interested in you. You’re a man who would shine more if polished. I’ll polish you. Then you might even become a candidate for my bed.”

Her words seeped into my mind like hypnosis.

I remembered Ayaka and the others saying, “Her attitude changes depending on whether she finds a man useful or not.” Was this how she ensnared men she deemed ‘useful’?

“No, thank you.”

I clearly stated, as if to shake off the atmosphere.

Rindo Akane’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but I continued speaking.

“If you’re so sure Touko-senpai will definitely lose, then why are you telling me this? There’s no need.”

“I told you. I’ve shown you a path.”

“No, that’s not it, right? You’re afraid of Touko-senpai. You think you might lose to her. That’s why you’re going to such lengths to recruit me as a spy.”

A dangerous light flickered in Rindo Akane’s eyes.

“Do you intend to reject my offer?”

“Yes, because that hand is evil and leads to defeat. Besides, I have no intention of becoming a pet.”

Saying this, I stood up.

“You’ll regret this.”

“It sounds like a line from a movie villain. But don’t worry, we won’t end up regretting.”

I said that and left without looking back.

When I left the shop, Karen was waiting by the elevator.

“Were you waiting for me?”

I asked, and Karen returned a professional smile.

“Yeah, I was worried about Yū-kun.”

“Stop with that act.”

“So, what happened?”

Karen suddenly became serious.

“Of course, I refused.”

I pressed the ‘down’ button on the elevator.

“Just as I thought. With your ‘Touko Monotheism,’ it would turn out like this.”

“If you knew, why did you bring me here?”

“Because I can’t go against Rindo-oneesama.”

As she spoke, the elevator arrived.

It was just the two of us inside.

“So, as promised.”

Karen handed me her smartphone. Displayed on it were “the SNS IDs, phone numbers, and email addresses of the three judges Karen knew.”

I took a photo of the contact details of the three people with my camera.

As I left the hotel, I asked Karen one last question.

“So, you’re in Rindo Akane’s camp?”

Karen again flashed that professional smile.

“Yeah. I guess I’m more on Rindo Akane’s side. But Karen is on Karen’s side.”

I pondered the meaning of her words.

“Karen, how about this then?”

I whispered something into Karen’s ear.