— Well, who will say what? Kenta asked when Kagami returned from seeing Shinji off.
"Your plan to make him rich has gone down in a copper basin, Father.
"But he's not in the clan yet.
— And it won't. How many times have I already said, he will not go under anyone's hand.
— He should become the head of the family.
— In the clan, under your command.
"We're not some outsider clan. He lives next to us all his life, and our relationship…
— Completely independent of your plans, Father.
"Don't make me look like a soulless schemer at all. Shinji is dear to me too.
— So don't touch him, he'll manage on his own. And where it can't cope, I will help there.
Not that it was such a serious skirmish, but Kagami didn't like even that. In family relationships, as, in fact, everywhere, we must strive for the ideal. Unfortunately, she did not always manage to smooth out such outbursts, cause fire on herself or turn the topic of conversation into another channel. However, there was such a topic now, and she was no less interested in it.
"I'm sorry, Kenta—san, but I have a question. Where did Shinji get the money to found the company? And how did he manage to organize all this at his age?
Thought about it. Now if they start arguing, it's on the case. And if something happens, she can ask another question. And more. The main thing is not to pay attention to stupid answers and not to climb too often with their suggestions, men like to feel smarter than women. The main thing here is not to forget and not to overdo it — stupid women are of little interest to anyone. Especially in the long run.
— Hmm, an interesting question. Apparently, he found an adult whom he trusted, and he probably saved up the money.
— Saved up? And didn't you have to save a lot? Akeno remarked on his father's words.
— No, not much. Any average resident of Japan could have founded something like this. Their sphere is the Internet, and at first the main thing there is the idea. However, I may be wrong, it needs to be clarified.
— It's still bullshit. Either he saved up for three years, or he lied to us about the amount of money sent to him. If he was saving up, then the question is, where did he get such knowledge at the age of ten or eleven.
— And if he lied, then why? Kenta asked.
— I didn't lie. Did you forget that he was running for part-time jobs?
— And what do we get? At first there was an idea, then he began to earn extra money, saving money and simultaneously learning the necessary knowledge.
The men's conclusions were correct in principle, but they forgot something.
"But why didn't he come to us?" Okay, money, but did Shinji not trust us so much that he organized his company through strangers?
For Kagami, this was a very important question.
"Yes, I'd also like to know why he didn't contact us," Akeno said.
"My personal opinion," the head of the clan began, "is that it's either because of pride and unwillingness to bother us, or because the money he saved was not completely clean.
"Do you think he stole them?" Akeno was surprised.
Kagami hadn't thought of that. No, it's better than her thoughts... but still somehow... I don't care, it's better this way.
— Not necessarily stole, maybe deceived someone or just worked for a small gang.
— Somehow it's... unlikely, in my opinion. Rather, the first one. And an artifact for at least two hundred million is proof of that.
And yet...
— Maybe... — Kagami feigned uncertainty, — was the person trusted enough?
— More trusted than us? — her husband grinned and abruptly fell silent.
— Ahem, ahem. This should be checked, since Shinji has allowed us to do something.
— That thing!
Oh, yes! She was in complete agreement with her husband. She really didn't want to give Shinji to this bitch Sakurai.
— Son!
— That son. How will you check it in the age of phones and the Internet? In which Shidotemoru is especially strong?
— There are many ways.
— Half of which gets into his personal life.
— Then we'll come up with something else.
Well, here we go again…
— We can try to talk to him.
"If they're hiding, we won't get anything from Shinji, and if they're not, we'll find them anyway. Where are they now, by the way?
— Free territories.
— Still? Pf, okay. To begin with, let's find out what we can about Shidotemora. And then we'll see.
* * *
Friday. Survive another day, and the weekend will come. Yes, just one day, although more like a day. And there's the weekend and Raydon's sister's birthday. Ho-oh, and this, too, must somehow survive. Okay, Max, cheer up and finally get up, no one canceled the run.
Morning business today went surprisingly quickly, and since I had nothing to do at home, I went to school, which at that time was somehow empty. If so, let's try to repeat the feat of Raydon — I have fifteen or twenty minutes.
A dream is not a dream, but I managed to take a nap. However, in fits and starts, jumping up every time they looked at me especially intently. But now, feeling another attention that has not stopped for a minute, I once again opened my eyes and finally saw the tailed Ohayashi. Even two—his sister was walking beside him.
— Hey, Sin.
"Sakurai—san," Aneko bowed slightly.
— And you don't get sick, Ohayashi-san, — I made a bow.
— Maybe you should switch to names? Raydon grimaced. "I feel like I'm at a reception right now."
What would it be to answer? I personally don't care, but you can't say, "I don't mind," because his sister might be against it. And by answering like that, I will put her in an awkward position. Oh, Ray, you didn't blurt that out.
— I don't mind if they call me by my first name.
Well, what else could I do? So it seems like I'm only responsible for myself, and Aneko can keep silent.
—Me too," his little sister smiled.
Hmm.
—Great! Otherwise, these "Ohayashi-san" make me sad.
— Aneko-san. — I don't know what prompted me to do this, but why not? Sometimes it is just such sudden impulses that make it possible to achieve the impossible. It won't get any worse. "What are you doing tonight?"
Oh, yes, the girl was obviously surprised. And I didn't understand a fig, it seems. The four seconds that she looked at me with a surprised smile is proof of that. Raydon actually stared at me.
"I'm getting ready for my sister's birthday," she finally replied. That's what it means to shave off technically — and it's not offensive, and you won't dig in. To be honest, I forgot about it. I mean, about the fact that women of the genus are engaged in such holidays. It's a pity, of course, but expected: who I am and who she is. Although the option with Aneko would be ideal. — And what?
After her last words, I was already standing, smiling and didn't know what to say. I wonder if she decided to make fun of me like that, or is it just a woman's curiosity? Probably a little bit of everything. I am sure that no matter what I say, everything will end with words: "I'll think about it."
— You are beautiful, smart and charming, Aneko-san, but it's just in between. You see, Prince Oama is hosting a party tonight, for some reason called Crystal, and it would be nice for me to come there with such an amazing girl in every sense.
After a short silence, Raydon's sister finally spoke:
"Koyama Shin—san may be offended," she said with an intonation that was incomprehensible to me.
It would be better if she just refused, otherwise she climbed into some wilds.
"We're childhood friends, not a couple," I grumbled.
— Yes, and someone from the senior Koyama probably vouched for you. — Well done girl, I didn't flatter her wisely after all. In response, I bowed my head slightly and spread my hands a little, confirming what was said. — Well, I can't answer right now, it's too unexpected, but I will definitely think about your offer.
Well, actually, as I said. I need to call Taro, let him start looking for a couple for me this evening. Yesterday, after talking to the neighbors, I never contacted him, somehow I didn't get around to it.
At the first break, the new head of the class reminded me that I had not chosen a club. Thank you, Imube-san, and how could I forget about it. However, she chose not to notice the irony in my answer. At the second break, I ran into Aketi Toremazu again, who came to her sister. What the hell, though, to come here knowing that you will get into such a situation, I don't understand. Jokingly I offered her to go on a date with me, in the end I had to drag the girl who had fainted to the medical room. Then listen to her sister's moralizing about moronic jokes. There was a lot to answer to this, but I was in a somewhat melancholic mood at that moment, so I just went into myself, ignoring her moralizing.
— Where are you looking at?
— Huh?
— Where are you staring at, dork?
Then it dawned on me that it was only for me that my gaze was directed to nowhere, and for everyone else I was looking at Sister Toremazu's chest. God, I'm sick of everything.
— Pervert.
— What-oh-oh!
— Less need to think about all sorts of vulgarities, that's what.
— Yes you ... yes I you…
But then a teacher came into the classroom, and she had to sit down at her desk willy-nilly. I should settle this matter, I know my classmate too poorly. Maybe she's a vindictive bitch, and this is just a legitimate reason to start ruining my life. It doesn't look like it, really, but you never know.
At the next break, I apologized to Kameko... well, I apologized a few times, but next time she'll wonder if it's worth blaming me for something like that. Firstly, it may come out sideways to her, and secondly, others may think that this is just a petty revenge on her part. It's also possible that I'm the jerk who forgot what it's like to be a child and measures everyone by my own standards. Well, that's fine. Having finally achieved forgiveness, with a clear conscience I went outside to smoke, there is enough time before the lesson, in theory, enough.