It was almost dark when the three of them returned to their share house after the search for Igarashi. In the living room of the house, there was a familiar figure welcoming Nishino and his friends back home.
"Oh? You've come home very late."
It's Francisca.
She is sitting on the sofa, sipping a can of beer, looking as if she has just walked in. On the low table in front of her are two empty cans and a pack of snacks. At her feet a plastic bag, probably from a nearby convenience store.
She had come to eat dinner and was now drinking alone.
"This isn't your home."
Rose asks, making no attempt to hide her annoyance. Ever since she moved into her new home, she has been a old woman who comes around for anything. The other day, she took advantage of the landlord's absence to rummage through the contents of the refrigerator, and was scolded by a resident who had just returned home.
"As a guardian, I'm lending you my name, so what's the big deal?"
"The way you look at it makes me wonder about the whole guardian thing."
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As Rose had pointed out, Francisca was looking rather unkempt.
Her suit jacket is lying on a dining chair, the top three buttons of her shirt unbuttoned. The way she slumps down on the sofa, combined with the can of beer in her hand, makes her look like a complete drunk.
For a virgin, it was quite a stimulating sight.
Her large breasts are pushed up and a glimpse of her bra can be seen between her shirts, making her look very sexy. Her legs were boldly crossed and the hem of her skirt had slipped up, exposing her thighs down to the base. Her underwear is also visible between the flesh.
"So, what are you doing here today?"
"I just came to visit you because I finished work unusually early. And yet all of you don't come home until this time of night. Maybe you've become bad people? Don't hang around with your bad friends, okay?"
"Is that self-deprecation? Not many people are as bad as you."
"Oh, I want to eat Rose's delicious food!"
Francisca was more talkative than usual, partly because of the alcohol in her system. The three of them look disgusted at her. This may have been due to the fact that they had been walking around for several hours trying to find Igarashi's footsteps. With no results to show for it, the group was mentally and physically exhausted.
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"If you're not busy, you should be helping out, Francisca."
A crotchety old lady enjoying herself alone.
Looking at her, Nishino muttered.
"Oh? It's unusual for [Normal] to ask me for a favor."
"You'd better not do that, Nishino-kun. This drunken old woman is not good at this kind of work. I once sent her to help me find some of the children who used to live here, but to no avail."
"We waited a long time and all we could get was hamster food!"
"I remember you saying the same thing before..."
I think back to the incident with the kurogal and Yukki, and inwardly think to myself that there was indeed such a thing. At that time, Francisca was useless, but Rose and Gabriella were very active.
"Come on, Rose, this is your chance to make him owe you."
"We're in a hurry. We don't have time to play with you."
"Hmm? Are you in such a hurry?"
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The crotchety old lady still insists.
Then Nishino opened his mouth, controlling Rose and Gabriella.
"I've already checked all my guesses. I'm not sure what to make of that. If you just want to explain the situation here, it's not too much trouble. I'll give it a try."
"Okay? My sister can tell you anything you want."
Francisca raised herself up from her resting position and bent forward to show off her cleavage. The way she looked up at the man standing in the living room was another sexy gesture.
"Then we'll have a meal together."
Without pausing, Rose steps in between them. She holds up a supermarket bag in her hand. As much as she hates to offer Francisca a meal, the blonde Lolita doesn't want him to get too close to her.
◇ ◆ ◇
In the end, we all sat around the dining table together.
It was Rose's job to prepare the food. Gabriella helped her by moving around, preparing the plates and washing the vegetables. At the request of the main chef, Francisca was also in the kitchen to help.
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It was Rose's intention to keep Nishino away from other women at all costs.
With the help of the late hour, the menu was prepared with relatively little effort, such as Mapo Doufu and Chinese Salad. The ingredients, which would have served three people, meant that each person's share was reduced, but Rose's skill made up for it.
Francisca was all smiles as she moved her chopsticks.
"I knew Rose's cooking was good."
"Next time you come, I'll charge you."
"I don't mind that much, do I?"
"...... Oh my god, this woman."
Complaining, Rose also takes a bite of her own food.
The dining set in the share house is for four people. She settles down in front of Nishino. Francisca is sitting next to her, and Gabu-chan is sitting next to the Futsumen, who has a special seat. The position of the three is a sign of hierarchy in the house.
"So what's the deal?"
Francisca asked a question to Nishino.
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Her cleavage is still the same.
He replies, trying his best not to let his eyes wander in that direction.
"I'm looking for someone. Her name is Igarashi Natsuki. "
"I've never heard of her. How do you know her? "
"We work together. "
"Hmmm? Does that mean she works at the same place as Rose?
"Yes, that's right."
"So she's a civilian, right?"
"I won't bore you with the details, but someone kidnapped her because of a money problem."
"Then why don't you go and cry to him in Roppongi?"
"I checked with Marquis, but he hasn't come up with anything interesting. He said that all the organisations that might be linked to the kidnapped target are legitimate. The investigation is continuing, but we are told not to expect too much."
"Well, that's another unusual twist."
"I agree with you on that."
"You said it made it difficult for you to solve the problem by force."
"That's what I mean. There's no doubt that there's a gang of thugs and yakuza working behind the scenes. But I can't see any connection. They must have cleverly created a network between the organisations. I don't think they even know they are involved in the crime."
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" Hmm ?"
"Does the name Global Assist Law Firm ring a bell?"
"......."
After Nishino's words, Francisca's hand has stopped.
She scoops up some Mapo Doufu from a shallow dish and looks at it with some difficulty.
"...... What's up?"
What the Futsumen has told her is the first place they went in search of the self-proclaimed saba saba girl. As for the others, there is no certainty that they are related to her abduction. At the moment, the only one that could be said to have been involved was this office.
At the sound of this, Francisca became nervous and asked.
"How do you know that name?"
Her expression changed from one of sobriety to one of sternness as she looked at Nishino. There was a definite feeling of rejection in her eyes, as well as nervousness. It's the best attitude she could have had towards him. Her dominant hand was conscious of the pistol in her pocket.
"The victim sent a message to my phone. "
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Nishino responds in a calm manner. On the screen of the phone in his hand, he displays the message in question and presents it to Francisca. The name of the firm in question, delivered by Igarashi, is on the screen.
In front of him, Rose is ready to fight, ready to get up from her chair at any moment. The only one who didn't seem to care was Gabu-chan, who was munching on her food. She's not interested.
"Do you have any idea what's going on?"
The question was repeatedly asked by the Futsumen.
Francisca hesitated for a few seconds before responding.
"...... I'd say yes. "
"Are you sure? If so, I'd like to know every little detail."
"I'm happy to tell you, but you have to promise not to get angry."
Francisca has a strange way of saying it. Her shoulders relaxed and she seemed to be saying, "I'm in trouble. Her demeanour softened somewhat when she saw Nishino's device. Apparently, her concerns had nothing to do with the activities of the three of them.
"What do you mean ?"
"It means exactly what it says."
On the other hand, when Francisca speaks, the Futsumen raises an eyebrow.
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Her eyebrows are misshapen and never properly groomed.
There is no doubt in his mind that she has something wrong with her.
The question naturally arose from Rose.
"Is this something you're not telling us?"
Francisca has no choice but to answer.
"The head of the firm is one of the local partners I've arranged for in the country."
"What did you say?"
This time Nishino's expression turned grim. The next moment he looked as if he was about to explode. Rose, for her part, was quiet and glared at Francisca, telling her to get on with it.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait. I told you not to get angry, didn't I?"
"Well, that depends."
"My local collaborator is just one of many friends I have. They are the end of the line. I can turn them around at my convenience, but you can't expect me to control every detail, right?"
"So you're saying that if anything happened, it was at the discretion of your men?"
"At least I didn't tell them what to do with anyone you know. I don't think I'd ever tell you what to do in the first place. I'm sure that no one in the office knows me. I'm sure no one at the office knows who I am."
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"I've said it before, haven't I? I'm not very good at this kind of detailed work, but that doesn't mean I'm not trying to do something about it. If I tell them that it's gradually taking shape, they'll understand a little better."
"Then I'd like to check one more thing."
He had noticed something.
"What's that?"
"How about a moneylender called Town Finance?"
"I don't remember seeing that name hanging under the office in the reports I've received. I'll have to check and see if I'm wrong about that one though."
" ... I see."
Nishino muttered to himself.
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In front of her, Rose, too, relaxes her tense body. She still has that same look in her eyes, but she's decided that it's not a situation that needs to be dealt with right away. Gabu-chan is still obsessed with Mapo Doufu.
"But I don't think they'd kidnap a normal person, would they? They're supposed to be a legitimate law firm. Of course, there are some not-so-legitimate people working there without their knowledge."
" ......."
After Francisca's words, Nishino felt defeated.
He hadn't realised that he was competing against her. The old lady seemed to understand this, and before long a smile appeared on her face. He looked at her with a grimace and a sick smile.
"Even [Normal] can't keep up, does that mean I'm doing a pretty good job? It's all worth the effort, even if I have to cut down on my sleep, despite Rose's sarcastic comments."
"...... Go ahead, say what you want."
"Oh, so you're frustrated?"
Francisca says this to encourage the Futsumen who have lost their momentum.
She seems to be very happy.
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"I've never said no to you in this kind of work. In the field, you're nothing but a liability, but when it comes to this kind of work, there's not many people who can do it better. In that sense, it's a deserved achievement."
" Hmm ... "
Francisca's heart thumped in her chest at Nishino's casual bravado.
She hadn't expected such an honest compliment. The light-hearted remark she had been preparing was blown out of her mind and a blush crept into her cheeks. The next words were lost, and the expression on his face said, Oh, come on, I don't want to hear that.
It was like the time when you were on a trip and someone forcibly took your lips.
Of course, it was the worst thing that could have happened to Rose.
"So what about the help calls in question?"
He interrupted her to prevent her from continuing the conversation any further.
He glared at Francisca and made his case.
" Is it okay to take over here ? "
She must have been very happy to be praised by Nishino. When Rose asked her what she wanted to do, the crotchety old lady responded in a straightforward manner. Normally, she would have made light of the situation, whether she accepted the request or not. The look on her face is brave.
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"I'll pay for the labour at the asking price. I'm sorry, but you have to take care of me, Francisca."
"If [Normal] has told me that, then I'll have to!"
She was a crotchety old lady who was particularly enthusiastic at the mention of her name. As I recall, this was the first time since I met her that I was asked to do something for her.
For Rose, it was a real punch in the gut.
"Yeah, thanks."
"But you owe me big time, don't you think?
"I'm aware of that. I said asking price, didn't I?"
In the past, I've said similar things and suffered the consequences. It is still fresh in his mind that Rose had his wallet in her hand and he could not even eat his daily meals. However, his cynical spirit was still intact. The next thing you know, his mouth is moving.
It is for the sake of the person who may become her lover in the near future.
This is the reason why he is a virgin.
"Really? Then let's hope for the best."
Francisca responds with a big smile. The idea was to use the system as a way of doing some work, but it turned out to be a great success. This alone was worth the effort, she thought to herself.
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"As soon as possible, please visit ...... to find out about the target. "
The Futsumen words were not lost on those present.
◇ ◆ ◇
In the end, the problem was solved with a single phone call from Francisca.
The self-proclaimed saba saba girl was traced in a flash. She was currently in a small building in Tokyo, not far from the law firm that had been mentioned. The three of them, Nishino, Rose and Gabriella, left their meal early and took a taxi to her place.
The building in question was a relatively small nine-storey building with its main entrance facing a back alley in a busy shopping area. There is one tenant on each floor. On the ground floor there were restaurants, while the other floors were lined with signs for cabarets, host clubs and brothels.
Nishino and his friends rushed to get into the lift.
The floor they were looking for was a cabaret club. However, it was not an ordinary cabaret club, but rather a sex cabaret or lovey-dovey cabaret that offered slightly sexier services.
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As soon as they stepped through the doorway into the shop, a voice called out to them.
"Hey, what are you kids doing in a place like this?"
He was a scary-looking man in a suit. He was standing at the entrance and shouted loudly when he saw Nishino and the others in their uniforms. He is in his mid-thirties, with an impressive seven-three pomade haircut.
In response, the Futsumen respond plainly.
"Do you know a woman named Igarashi?"
"Huh ? "
At the start of the conversation, a look of annoyance appeared on the man's face when he was called out.
The normal part of the Futsumen personality easily struck a nerve with him.
"I'm from Global Assist Law Firm"
"....."
Still, he hesitates as he hears the words that follow. For all intents and purposes, he is a student. And he's a sprout of a man. The man in the suit would think he was being ridiculed no matter what he said. Still, the sound of a law firm had power.
He also had a chaperone behind him.
They were Rose and Gabriella.
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In combination with their non-Japanese appearance, they were undeniably eye-catching.
Their presence lent some credibility to Nishino's words.
"We don't know such an office."
"Oh, I'm sure you do. I'm told they're not directly involved. I'm told it's a scout operating outside the confines of the office. The scout is not affiliated with the agency either, just an amateur pick-up, so no wonder they can't track them down."
" ... Maybe you're making a fool of me ?"
" ...... "
He glances around the shop and mutters to himself. They are standing at the entrance of the shop. We can see the corridor leading to the main floor, but it is impossible to see what is going on inside. Only the loud music could be clearly heard from beyond.
If it was a shop with yakuza connections, there were plenty of ways to get in, whether it was through Ohno or through the front door. However, if the shop was legally licensed and operated, there was no way he could go on a rampage.
"I don't know what it is, but can you please leave before you get scared? This is not a place for children, you know. If you don't get out, scary men will come from the back and you might get into trouble, okay?"
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"I'm trying to do the right thing, I shouldn't have to say anything like that."
This is a very irritating behaviour. The man is also furious because he has been right on the money. But it was a teenage student. There is also a female student in the room. There was no way he was going to resort to violence. He would be arrested by the police.
The man's mouth began to twitch and shake with anger.
"A woman called Igarashi is supposed to be visiting this shop. I'm sorry, but I need to see her face."
"Are you sure you don't want me to call the police? You'll be arrested and the school will be informed?"
"That's not good."
"......."
Nishino responds with an attitude that says, Good grief. He is a man in a suit who no longer wants to punch a Futsumen in the face.
The conversation lasts only a few minutes. Then, from the back of the shop, another employee arrives. It was another man, also in a suit. This man, also in a suit, saw the people arguing in the doorway of the shop and asked in a dignified manner, What do you want?
"Um, is this about Natsuki Igarashi?"
"And you?"
"I am the owner of this shop."
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The man who claimed to be the owner bowed reverently to Nishino and the others.
◇ ◆ ◇
Nishino, Rose and Gabriella walked down the corridor of the shop as the owner urged.
After checking the facts, it seemed that Francisca had sent word of their visit through various channels. The son of one of the biggest names in the business was looking for someone he knew, and asked them to help him out.
However, none of the names of people or organisations mentioned by the owners were familiar to Nishino and his team. The fact that Francisca did not accompany them was probably due to this background, according to the selfish imagination of the Futsumen.
By the way, the man who had stopped the three of them returned to the hall with a pale face.
The man who claimed to be the owner led them to a reception room set up in the back office. There were sofas facing each other over a low table. And on one of them there was already a person.
"What ...... How come Nishino and his friends are ......"
It's Igarashi.
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She was surprised to see Nishino and his friends visiting the room. On the other hand, the Futsumen breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the person she was looking for. Rose, too, shows her relief at his presence. The only one who looks bored is Gabu-chan.
"I saw the message you sent me, and I came to see you."
"Eh ? Ah ... that's ... "
When the owner told him that there was something complicated to discuss, he quickly left the room.
Only those involved remained in the room.
Nishino and his friends walked to the sofa. The three of them sat down side by side, facing each other, while the self-proclaimed saba saba girl one sat on the other side. As usual, Nishino was in the middle, flanked on either side by Rose and Gabriella.
"Just to be sure, what was that?"
"That's ... "
Igarashi began to talk about the situation in a sluggish manner.
That is her trajectory today.
As Rose and Gabriella confirmed, she had visited a law firm to seek debt settlement. However, she was also refused by the same firm. So she left the office this afternoon.
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She was then on her way to her part-time job when she was persistently approached on the street by a man who appeared to be a scout. The man's apparent yakuza-like appearance prompted her to send Nishino a message shortly afterwards.
"In that case, you should turn to the police."
"I was just about to send a message to Nishino-kun, so I quickly wrote that ......"
"I see."
At the same time as she was preparing her breasts, there was someone who approached her. Igarashi was helped to get out from under the scouts, and she ended up talking to him about her situation, and decided to start working at night.
She came to this restaurant of her own volition.
She came here on her own initiative and met a businessman who was on his way to work. He was kind enough to listen to her and repeatedly told her that working in a nightclub was not despicable, which motivated her to visit the shop.
The shop he was introduced to was also suggested by the man.
"What is that, a typical scout?"
"How stupid is this woman?"
Rose and Gabriella muttered at the self-proclaimed saba saba girl explanation.
They look at her as if she were looking at dirt.
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"But, but, this is a flirt cabaret, so it's not like sex......."
"This is how you get them used to the sex industry, first at a relatively soft place, and then, when they are less conscious, gradually lead them to a harder place. The more conscious a girl like you is, the more she will fall for it."
"I think it's important to know how you got there."
"....."
Igarashi's face turned pale after Rose and Gabriella's comments.
After seeing the reaction of the other person, they are ready to make a move on the self-proclaimed saba saba girl. It would be unbearable if Nishino were to get close to her. They decided to take advantage of the opportunity to break the root of the problem.
"The salaryman is just a man for show, isn't he?"
"It's because of women like this that women as a whole are made to feel like men."
"But......"
She is a self-proclaimed saba saba girl. Still, she struggles to explain.
The businessman she met claimed to be an employee of a major listed company. He wore an expensive suit and was fresh and handsome.
From her point of view as a lowly part-timer, he seemed to be a man on top of the world.
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Rose and Gabriella then began to blame her for her mistake, as if they had seen it coming. The Lolitas work together to make sure that Nishino doesn't get a chance to talk.
"She was a fool"
"Can't you be a little smarter than that? "
"........"
As a self-proclaimed saba saba girl couldn't help but feel guilty.
"I'm not sure if you've checked the identity of the businessman who approached you. A business card can be disguised as any number of things. Why didn't you suspect that he was connected to the first man who approached you?"
"I'm guessing that the area around the office is Scout territory. Also, I did a little research before I came here, and I found out that that law firm advertises a lot for personal debt management. A woman like you is nothing but a sucker."
"Overpayment is a very lucrative business for lawyers."
Igarashi was beaten up by Rose and Gabriella.
Igarashi's repeated pursuit of Rose and Gabriella was too much for Nishino to bear, and he put a stop to it.
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"It's not that she didn't deserve what she got. But for someone like her, who has lived in a small world, it is easy to be fooled by unfamiliar events. If she has learnt that lesson from this incident, then enough is enough, right?"
"If you don't stop, you'll never learn. "
"I think sister is right. I'm sure she'll do it all over again."
The girls must have been annoyed by the Futsumen defensive attitude towards Igarashi. They look more serious than ever, as if they want to help him. This is the reason why Nishino can not say too strongly.
Igarashi muttered to herself at the sight of these girls.
" ...... Did they come here because they were worried about me?"
It was Rose and Gabriella who were not worried at all. I'm not sure what the hell she's talking about, Rose thought irritably. However, in front of Nishino, she is afraid to tell the truth. At the same time, this moment is the perfect opportunity to score some points with the Futsumen.
"We're from the same workplace, so it's not surprising."
"......"
Rose talks about it with a smile.
Gabu-chan has no comment.
Then, it is the self-proclaimed saba saba girl who is fooled by this.
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"Wow, thank you for doing this for me....."
Inspired by the warm words that were unexpectedly given to her, she started giggling.
She has not learned a thing from today's events.
I can't stand to watch this, was Rose's honest reaction as she watched. If Nishino hadn't been there, she might have slapped her on the cheek. It was the type of person she hated. Gabu-chan, on the other hand, was blatantly looking away.
On the other hand, it is Nishino who is honestly happy.
"We've taken care of your debts."
"What? Well, that's ......"
He was the one who had asked Francisca to pay for the self-proclaimed saba saba girl borrower out of her own pocket. Rose and Gabriella were reluctant, but he was willing to borrow from the crotchety old woman for the sake of the one he loved.
I'll be calling you soon, she said as she left.
"It's late today. We should go home and get some rest."
He looks as if he wants to say it's a good story and is happy to tell it.
From Nishino's point of view, it's an amicable solution. Now they can continue their love affair at work.
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Thank you for the christmas present!
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