[Blind Date I]

Since the hotel incident, Okuda-san has visited Class 2A at every opportunity. 

Her target was Nishino, a troublesome student in the class. 

Beginning in the morning before homeroom, when the students had just arrived at school, and of course during lunch break, she would visit the class frequently, even during the few breaks between classes. After school, as soon as homeroom was over, the students would get ready to go home.

Then, she would gather around the Futsumen seat for a cynical talk. 

Conversations that were embarrassing to listen all day long. 

Although some of the female students looked at her reproachfully, the conversation did not develop into torment as before, thanks to the advice given from Risa-chan to Nishino . It has been limited to a few distant mutterings of bad words. 

This makes the Futsumen happy. 

As a matter of course, they began to share lunch time together. 

At lunchtime that day, Nishino and Okuda-san were both sitting around a table in the student cafeteria. 

Rose and Gabriella could also be seen at the same table. 

They had been spreading out picnic sheets on the rooftop just yesterday, but today they decided to move to the cafeteria. Gabu-chan's opinion that they could no longer stand the cooler outside air and suggested that they move indoors prompted them to do so.

"It is wonderful to eat in a warm place. Your hands never get numb."

"The other day, you were enjoying a steamed bun under the cold weather."

"It's okay if you don't eat like that very often. Every day is too much for me." 

In the corner of the reasonably spacious dining room, Nishino and the others are seated at a square table for six. Rose and Gabriella are on either side of the Futsumen, and Okuda-san is on the opposite side, a somewhat odd arrangement. 

As usual, Rose's homemade bento boxes were lined up on the table. Nishino and Gabriella, in addition to the person who brought the meal, are eating it. In each hand is a box containing the meal, as well as a container of white rice. 

Only in front of Okuda-san, a single bento box she had brought in was set on the table.

"I feel guilty about spreading out my personal lunch in the cafeteria." 

"There are other students doing similar things, and that's fine, right?" 

"Even so, isn't at least one person in the group eating something off the cafeteria menu?" 

The majority of the surrounding tables were occupied, aided by the fact that it was lunchtime. 

And not a few students were aware of Nishino and the others.

The top and bottom of the campus caste, a disproportionately large group, were receiving questioning glances from the others. Even Rose and Gabriella stand out. The fact that there were so many elaborate dishes on the table drew their attention, whether they wanted to or not.

"Nishino, in that case, why don't I go order a bowl of curry myself?"

"No, I'll go buy it myself then. Okuda-san will have her own lunch today." 

"In that case, I'm sorry, but I'll have a bowl of soy sauce ramen, please." 

"Why are you ordering something?" 

"I want to take this opportunity to taste the cafeteria."

"Then go buy it yourself." 

"I can't finish the whole bowl, so I thought I'd just have a bite." 

Ever since the other day when they had  lunch on the rooftop, Okuda-san has been sharing her  lunch break with Nishino and the others. Since hse has recognized them as peers, her attitude toward them has become very friendly, just like how she treats the Futsumen.

"In any case, why not order it next time? It would be a shame if you couldn't finish it and left it behind. From now on, I will reduce the quantity of the bento, so let's eat it together with the menu here. If that's the case, Nishino, you won't complain, right?"

"Okay, let's do it like that " 

"Do you like ramen, Gabriella-san? " 

"Yes, I think that ramen has a very unique culture. I've heard that the way to eat ramen is to put a lot of pepper on it. I have always wanted to try it!"

Because of this, the group seemed to be a very amicable one to the outsider's eyes, regardless of the actual situation. Rose and Gabriella's refreshing personalities, coupled with Okuda-san's energy and fearlessness, gave the impression of a close group of friends. 

That is why the presence of the Futsumen seems odd. 

There is one male student for every three female students. 

It is a complete harem. 

Moreover, all three of the female students are good-looking. Although there was one person with a bad reputation mixed in, Okuda-san had a reputation among some of the students for being reasonably pretty if she kept her mouth shut. 

Besides, the Futsumen in question interacts with the female students in a mature manner. From the male students' point of view, it was a scene that was beyond envy. They looked at him with suspicion, wondering why Nishino was hanging out with Rose and the other girls. 

However, there was one person in the same place who was even more upset than the boys. 

Yes, it was Shimizu. 

As soon as lunch break started today, Rose, Gabriella, and Okuda-san visited the classroom of Class 2A. The Inchou was sitting two seats away from them, eavesdropping on their lively exchange over where to have lunch. 

Then she heard the word cafeteria. 

Normally, Shimizu and Risa-chan have lunch together in the classroom. However, today she escapes, saying something like, Sorry Risa, I forgot to bring my lunch box. She left the classroom, leaving the lunch she had brought securely in her bag. 

The clever Inchou was not sloppy about her subsequent movements. 

She intentionally gave herself a few minutes to catch up with Nishino and the others before visiting the school cafeteria. She was welcomed, as many schools are, by a floor packed with students, as she had intended to be late. A quick glance did not reveal any round empty tables.

" ...Ok" 

After confirming this, she purchased a meal ticket and received her meal at the counter. 

She then walked to the corner of the floor, to the table where Nishino and the others were seated. 

As she had assumed, there was some room at the table where they were sitting. With a sort of response to this fact, she approached the table below them with an expression on her face as if she were in trouble for not having a seat. 

Then, things went as Shimizu had planned.

"Inchou, it's rare to see the you in the cafeteria." 

"What? Ah, Nishino?" 

Nishino called out to her as she walked across the floor. 

Shimizu responded as if she had just noticed. 

She made a point of stepping under their table, pretending it was a coincidence.

"Excuse me, but are you alone?" 

"Uh, yeah. I kind of forgot my lunch......." 

At a cultural festival some time ago, the Futsumen tried desperately to get together with the opposite sex, while the Inchou glared down at him. The situation had completely reversed since then, but Shimizu responded with a series of sullen excuses. 

Nishino's subsequent proposal was exactly what she had expected.

"If you don't see a place to sit, this seat is available." 

He points his eyes diagonally in front of himself and next to both sides of Okuda-san.

The Inchou's honest impression, upon seeing their arrangement, was, They are sitting in a strange way again. It's like a harem, she thought as she looked at the three female students. And then, while she was laying out some sort of oracle in her heart, she proudly entered the harem in an empty seat. 

Incidentally, of the two available seats, Shimizu chose the one in front of Gabriella.

"............"

Rose immediately gave me a suspicious look, as if to say, I hope this woman didn't come here for a reason. She did not raise her voice, but for a brief moment, she stared at her with a glare. 

As a starry-eyed Inchou, she turned a blind eye to this. 

Immediately afterward, Gabu-chan, who was sitting opposite her, called out to her.

"Is this soy sauce ramen?" 

"What? Yes, that's right." 

"If you don't mind, would you be willing to trade some of your lunch for some of ours?" 

"I hope you won't trade for a bento that you don't own."

The Inchou joined us, and the table became even more crowded. 

Another beautiful woman was added to Nishino's harem. 

Moreover, the sequence of events was a result of an invitation from the Futsumen to Shimizu. The Inchou's reaction, which was aided by the fact that she sat down with an open mind, drew even more attention from the students present in the cafeteria. Everyone wondered about the presence of Nishino, who was definitely standing out from the crowd. 

And in the same place, there was a male student who has always had a liking for Shimizu.

"Takechi, I'm gonna go see Inchou for a minute." 

"Hey, calm down a bit. This is the cafeteria." 

"Don't worry. I'm not trying to do anything to Nishino."

It was Suzuki-kun. 

He had visited the cafeteria with Takeuchi-kun and quickly stood up after witnessing the exchange between the Inchou and Nishino. Leaving the food on the table untouched, he went empty-handed to the table where Nishino and the others were gathered around. 

These days, the Futsumen often gets into a good mood with Okuda-san in the classroom. 

His relationship with Rose and Gabriella is also found to be amicable. 

If he was shown eating lunch with the Inchou, too, he would not be able to resist. He was not sure if this guy had already had sex with her. 

From a handsome point of view, this was an unforgivable situation.

"Okuda-san, can I sit here for a minute?"

"What, uh, Suzuki-kun......... Right?" 

When Suzuki-kun visited Nishino and his group, he first approached Okuda-san. 

As Suzuki-kun anticipated, Okuda-san was approached by a handsome man who was at the top of the school's caste. 

She was surprised from his bare reaction after checking his facial features, and was at a loss for a response. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he settled down in the seat next to her. 

Now all six seats were filled.

" Is there something you need from Okuda-san ? " 

Looking at the uninvited guest in the face, Rose called out to him. 

I wish you and Okuda-san would go away, was her honest thought. Her mind immediately began to move to deal with the two intruders together. However, her thoughts were put on hold by Suzuki-kun's subsequent comment.

"No, I want to speak to Nishino, Rose-chan."

"To Nishino-kun ? " 

Rose was aware that Suzuki-kun was hostile toward Nishino over the Inchou's presence. It was inevitable that he had a hunch that he had come to pick a fight. The Inchou and Gabriella did the same, and their attention turned to him. 

Only Nishino seemed to be glad to see him.

"What can I do for you? Suzuki-kun." 

"Didn't we play a game before to see who could get the best score on an exam?"

"........Game?" 

The Futsumen is happy that a classmate has given him the opportunity to have a conversation. 

He was also honestly conscious of the questions that continued to be asked. 

The event that came to mind was the use of midterm exam scores. The event was Gabriella's idea, in which the person with the lowest score in a particular subject, as specified by the participants, would be given an order to the person with the highest score. 

The person with the lowest score was asked to do one command by the person with the highest score on a specific subject specified by the participants. 

Nishino had won the right to give orders to Suzuki-kun.

"Is that, by any chance, about the midterms?" 

" es, that's it." 

"No way......" 

"You wanted to go to a blind date so bad, didn't you?" 

What the Futsumen of the time demanded of Suzuki-kun was to hold a blind date. 

Although they had made a verbal promise to each other, it had been quite some time since the game had been finished, and Nishino had heard that it would take some time, but he had almost forgotten about the exchange, thinking that it would never be fulfilled.

There is no word more unsuitable for Futsumen than this. 

The Inchou also raised her voice when she heard the word blind date.

"Suzuki-kun, are you serious?"

"A promise is a promise. It took me a while to get it." 

I'm the kind of guy who always keeps his word, even if he says it once, he says. The smile on his face is the best smile I've ever seen, and he makes full use of his good looks.

"............"

She could not come up with the words to follow up on this. 

By the way, this is a somewhat embarrassing topic for Nishino. 

He was a Futsumen who wanted to avoid getting involved with other members of the opposite sex, especially now that he had begun to get along with Okuda-san. He was a virgin who had not even started dating yet, but he was already starting to feel manipulative toward her.

"Suzuki-kun, I'm sorry about that, but I've been thinking about ....." 

"You're not going to tell me you don't want me to do it now, are you? I had a hard time setting that up." 

"...... I see. Sorry you had to go through all that trouble." 

Having asked for it to his own face, the Futsumen could not refuse. 

He nodded his head and accepted Suzuki-kun's proposal. 

After confirming this, the handsome man's attention shifted to Okuda-san, who was sitting next to him.

"Oh, Okuda-san, would you like to join us? " 

" Eh ? M, Me too ?" 

When she receives an invitation from a good-looking guy, Okuda-san, who is a shy girl, is very nervous. 

She is a girl who is not immune to longing at the sound of a blind date. However, the event is so distant from the world she has lived in that she can't help but hesitate. She also wonders if she is being made fun of.

"Well, I've never been to a party or anything like that....... " 

"There is one guy on the guy's side who really wants to attend, and if Okuda-san is willing to attend, he can be added to the group. I don't want to force you to join, but if you and Nishino would like to join, how about it?" 

Suzuki-kun, who immediately saw into her mind, said as if to fold up the conversation. 

From Okuda-san's point of view, the with Nishino part really struck a chord. 

Naturally, this was a ploy by Suzuki-kun. 

Suzuki-kun was planning to lure Nishino into his own field, the venue of the party, and play around with her in front of Okuda-san. The handsome man was playing the cards, thinking that it would be an easy breakup for the two, who had only met each other a short time. 

If he wanted to, he could let someone he knew hold Okuda-san, or something.

"Nishino, are you a person who goes to blind dates or something like that?"

"No, unfortunately, this is my first time." 

"Oh, really?" 

"But it is true that I was interested in it. As you mentioned earlier, before I got acquainted with Okuda-san, I had asked Suzuki-kun to host the party as a compensation for the game. I can only thank Suzuki-kun for going out of his way to help me." 

The Futsumen, who are aware of Okuda-san, make excuses by laying out their past history. 

In addition, he also remembered to aggrandize Suzuki-kun. 

Then, in response to Nishino's comment, Okuda-san blurted out.

" If that's the case, wow, I'll join you......" 

"Okay, then we're set! As for a date, how about this weekend?" 

Thus, it was decided to hold a blind date hosted by Suzuki-kun. 

Watching their exchange from a distance, Takeuchi thought to himself.

No matter how hard he tries, this is the kind of thing Suzuki will have a hard time with.

◇ ◆ ◇

After school on the same day, Nishino left school and headed straight for Roppongi. 

He had received a message from Marquis that he had something to tell him about the recent incident. He took a seat at the counter and faced the bartender over the table in the bar, which had a sign saying that it was closed.

"First of all, I'd like to make a quick accounting of my carelessness." 

"There was no serious damage. There is nothing to be concerned about." 

Marquis says in a tone that seems more polite than usual. 

Nishino, on the other hand, responds with his usual brusque mannerisms.

"I heard that someone you knew at the school was involved at the scene......." 

"There was something to be gained here as well. I'm fine with that as a resolution."

"If you're referring to the matter with the police, I'd like to talk to you again about that." 

"No, that's a different matter." 

Nishino had visibly made progress in his relationship with Okuda-san after the car chase.

"........ Well, if you insist, I'll take you up on your generosity this time." 

"I'd like to see you do better next time, though." 

"Oh, by the way, the case agent wants to talk to you." 

"The agent?" 

" He said he'd be here soon............" 

Marquis's gaze fell on the wristwatch in his hand. 

As if on time, the bell on the door of the store rings with a dry clang. The storefront has a sign that the store is closed, so only a few people will ignore the sign and step inside. 

Naturally, their attention turned to the store's doorway.

"Hi, sorry I'm late?" 

It was Francisca, dressed in a suit, who showed up. 

She spotted Nishino in the store and stepped straight ahead.

"Did you have a good time cleaning up Guam?"

"I already took care of that one." 

Francisca walked up to Nishino, her heels clacking, and settled down at the counter right next to him. In the face of the Futsumen, she crossed her legs grandly despite the fact that she was wearing a miniskirt.

"Can I have some of that? I'm thirsty." 

"...... Okay." 

Francisca said, looking at the unfinished glass on the seat next to her. 

The barman started to move around inside the counter, taking orders from customers. 

As she watched, she continued to speak to Nishino.

"I heard that there was a conflict in the field regarding our former employee." 

"I was briefed just now that you wanted to talk to me." 

"Let me be the first to say that I was giving you the proper instructions. But I heard that there was some arbitrary action close to the scene of the crime. It's fine to have a sense of justice, but don't let it get in the way of doing your job." 

"Yeah, I figured as much." 

"Well, you can't take care of it if you're making more scandals with the doubles." 

Francisca spoke with an attitude as if to say, Oh dear. 

Nishino, on the other hand, continued to respond nonchalantly.

"I'm afraid I've failed to do the job, but does that change the client's intentions?" 

"To put it bluntly, this job is like a favor from my boss to [Normal], so you can do whatever you want. If it's too much trouble for you, I can handle it myself." 

"I've already accepted this job. I'll take care of it until the end." 

"Is that so? Then I'll be counting on you." 

In front of Francisca, who was exchanging words with the Futsumen, a glass was prepared by the barman on the counter. The beer was poured into a large beer mug. The silhouette of the mug is a bit rugged for a woman to hold. 

Francisca, however, did not care, and drank about a third of the beer in one gulp.

"You're drinking as good as ever." 

"I told you, didn't I? I was thirsty." 

Nishino follows her lead, reaching for the glass in his hand. In contrast to Francisca, who gulps down the drink with gusto, the Futsumen takes the whiskey into his mouth with an air of sophistication and tastes a small amount as if rolling it around on his tongue. 

If Inchou was there, couldn't he drink a little more normally? Shimizu, who was experiencing a bar for the first time, was not so sure. It will be a few years before Shimizu, who has never been to a bar before, will be able to nimbly pour the distilled spirit down her throat and spit it out in reaction to the Futsumen.

"Also, as far as the subject is concerned, he is planning to go into exile in the near future."

"I'm curious as to the source of the information." 

"I'm sure it's a reliable source, since it's from the place where he requested asylum." 

"The world is as ruthless as ever against the weak." 

"It's rare to find someone like you who doesn't weigh the pros and cons." 

"I'm sure I'm making enough of an effort to do so." 

The bar is quiet, with no other customers in sight, and the voices of Nishino and Francisca's interactions echo all the way to the edge of the floor. The hustle and bustle of the street seems quite distant across the door. Under subdued lighting, the adult atmosphere of the bar is a talk space that Okuda-san loves. 

On the other side of the counter, Marquis began polishing a glass for his own comfort.

"But why did you have to come all the way down here to explain it to me?"

"I had other things to do." 

"Another devious scheme?." 

"Well, what do you think? There's a lot going on. A lot." 

"......Oh, well." 

Francisca's smile with a hint of implication. 

Nishino did not dare to ask, but merely gave a small nod.

"Also, if you're going to continue working, would you mind if I check in with you to see what your plans are for the future?"

"I'd like to ask the owner here about his availability as well............" 

Nishino and Francisca's gazes turned to the barman across the counter. 

After a brief moment of holding a glass and a rag in his hand, Marquis puts them down and looks up, as the topic of conversation is broached. He looks somewhat formal, even through his sunglasses, and opens his mouth to speak to the two of them.

"Once we have been approached, we want to ensure that we have located the target. We have already made arrangements for additional personnel. I apologize for the disappointing response, but we hope to locate the target within the next few days." 

" I don't care about the details of the arrangements, as long as you've done the proper research." 

" In that case, I will wait quietly for the good news." 

"I would appreciate it if you would do that. As soon as we get confirmation, I'll contact you." 

After that, we spent some time chatting about other things. When the mug in Francisca's hand was empty, the barman announced that the bar was open for business. Obasan demanded another beer, but was rebuked by the Futsumen, and the meeting ended as it did.

◇ ◆ ◇

After school, at the same time that the Futsumen left school for Roppongi. 

Tarosuke, the princess of rock, according to Nishino, was traveling around Tokyo by car.

"Thank you so much for doing this for Alice." 

"Well, what the heck. Even if you are an idol, you can't neglect your education." 

Alice Kurusugawa can be seen in the passenger seat. 

They are using a Japanese compact car for transportation. According to the license plate, it is a rental car. Tarosuke is dressed in a suit, top and bottom, hat, and sunglasses. Alice Kurusugawa is wearing her junior high school uniform, plus a black wig and mask. 

The vehicle and the appearance of the two characters suggest that they are aware of the public's view of them. 

They are Tarosuke and Alice Kurusugawa, who seem to be acting incognito . 

"I didn't think Taro-san knew the school he went to. " 

"I've had a little business with him before. But I can't show you around the campus. " 

"I won't be that reckless. It would be enough if you could give me a glimpse of the school from the outside." 

The car navigation system points to the school Nishino attends. 

If they follow the directions, they will reach their destination in a few more minutes. After passing the main road, the car is heading toward its destination on a street that is not much wider than one lane in each direction, passing between the houses and buildings that stand in a narrow space.

"But are you really going to go to his school ?" 

"I think my interactions with him will outweigh all the academics in Alice's school life!" 

"I don't know what you mean, but there's a lot of activity going on around him...... " 

That guy is a reference to Nishino. 

Alice Kurusugawa, a junior high school student, was apparently trying to choose a school where the Futsumen are enrolled as her school of choice. It seems that the attitude in which she confessed her feelings to Nishino at the idol's audition hall was not a show of pretension or craziness.

"And Taro-san, you are also worried about Nishino-san, aren't you?" 

"No, not really......" 

"If that's the case, I think that if Alice becomes friends with Nishino-san, there will be more contact between him and Taro-san. I don't know about your relationship, but if you want, I don't mind if you use Alice's presence as a pretext." 

"Although, if you play bad things with him, even if you are a woman or a child, you'll end up getting burned. If he is thinking of something bad, I will return you my office right now."

Tarosuke recalls a past incident in Santorini. 

The experience of being almost killed by Gabriella and her followers was still etched in his mind as a vivid memory. If anything, the story of how he was threatened by Rose was also firmly in his mind. He is a handsome man who can't stop thinking that the followers are even more vicious than Nishino himself.

"That is never the case. It's just that Alice is concerned about Nishino-san.." 

"..... Well, it's your choice where you want to go to school. No pressure from us." 

"Thank you for listening to Alice's selfishness. " 

After a while, the destination came into view. 

A few dozen meters to the left of the car's direction of travel. The silhouette of a distinctive building catches their eyes through the windshield. The school gate was located facing the road, and from time to time, students could be seen exiting the school. 

Tarosuke pulls the car over to the side of the road.

" I'll wait for you here, and you can go look at the school for a while." 

"Are you sure ? " 

"If you're dressed like that, you won't be noticed and cause a commotion ." 

Tarosuke looked at Alice Kurusugawa, who was wearing a wig and a mask, and said, She looks like a student. While her natural hair, dyed pink, stands out, once this is hidden, combined with her junior high school uniform, she looks like any other student.

"If that's the case, I'll take your word for it." 

"But please do not try to enter the......." 

Alice Kurusugawa and Tarosuke exchanged exchanges in the car. 

Eventually, the latter's expression changed when he saw a student appear from the school gate.

"Taro-san, is something wrong?" 

" No, it's nothing." 

A handsome man's cheeks are drawn back in a twitch. 

Watching this, Alice Kurusugawa's attention also turned to the school gate. 

Then she quickly realized what he had been distracted by.

"Ah! Could those be the girls who were with Taro-san and Nishino-san at the audition? It's rare to see such a conspicuous combination even in Tokyo." 

They were staring at Rose and Gabriella. 

Also seen beside them was Suzuki-kun. 

The three of them were exchanging some words just outside the main gate.

◇ ◆ ◇

On the car parked on the side of the road, where Tarosuke and Alice Kurusugawa were staring at each other. 

The blonde and silver haired duo, who are rarely seen even in Tokyo, were meeting Suzuki-kun, a member of the 2A class, near the school gate after school. He was on his way out of school, and Rose and Gabriella stopped him.

"It's rare that Rose and Gabriella want to see me."

"If you don't mind, we have a few questions we'd like to ask you."

"I don't mean to come out of the blue, but don't you have to participate in the club's activities? The soccer team was rolling the ball on the field. I remember hearing about it from Chikako Shimizu." 

"I had to leave early today because I had some business to attend to. "

"Is that what you were saying in the cafeteria during lunch break today?"

" Well, something like that. I had a meeting with the other party." 

Suzuki-kun was approached by the most popular female student on campus, and he was in a good mood to answer her. On the other hand, Rose and Gabriella, who had already arranged to meet, cooperated with each other and connected the topic to extract the information they were looking for.

"I think what we're about to ask you might have a little something to do with that." 

" Huh ? What do you mean?" 

"What kind of places do you usually go for this kind of event? As a student, you must be limited in what you can afford. If you know of any good places to go, could you please let me know?" 

"Oh, is that right? " 

"I'd like to go to a place where I can relax, if possible. I don't like noisy places. Also, since I'm with someone who is picky about taste, I'd be happy if the tea is good. If bad tea is served, he will be very rude to me."

" Hey, I hope you don't think we're being too presumptuous. " 

" I see, if that's what you mean......" 

In response to Gabu-chan's voice, Suzuki-kun mentioned several places. 

Some of them were familiar to the girls. The fact that he was able to name the places with such ease suggests that he is quite familiar with this kind of activity. This is a far cry from the Futsumen, who stay at his favorite bar and don't know much about other establishments. 

After listening to all of this, Rose asked the real question.

" Is there a shop you're going to use this weekend among the ones I just listed ? " 

"No, we are planning to go to a regular chain restaurant. It's right outside the Hachiko exit of Shibuya, but from what I've heard, it probably won't meet our needs." 

"By Hachiko exit, do you mean around the Center Street area?" 

" Yes, I think the name of the place is also...." 

What they continued to tell them was a chain store that they both knew very well. 

If they opened their map apps, they would be able to locate it right away.

"If it's crowded in that area, I can always move on to another place. ." 

Perhaps amused by the conversation with Rose and Gabriella, the girls were given  by Suzuki-kun in front of the school gate for some time thereafter. The car carrying Tarosuke and Alice Kurusugawa arrived.

"Thank you, Suzuki-kun. I learned a lot from you." 

"I thank you for your time." 

"No need to thank me. Well then, I'd better get going."

It seemed that he was telling the truth about running errands, so Suzuki-kun said goodbye to Rose and Gabriella and left from in front of the school gate without looking aside. The girls smiled at him and watched him go until their backs were out of sight. 

After a while, when the other party had completely disappeared, Rose said.

"By the way, I can feel their eyes on the car parked there." 

"You're always so observant, as usual." 

"I want to check it out just in case, so you should come with me."

"I understand. I will accompany you sister who is very anxious." 

She walks toward her car on the street facing the school gate. 

From the side, they were nothing more than high school girls on their way home from school. 

However, Tarosuke, who witnessed the scene from his car, felt his heart beat faster as the two approached closer and closer. Although he had done nothing wrong, the sense of discomfort, which he could not overcome at all, was making the handsome man's heart ache. 

In the passenger seat, Alice Kurusugawa tilts her head in question. 

Meanwhile, Rose and Gabriella come close to the car. The girls check out the person sitting in the driver's seat and immediately recognize the other's identity. Immediately after, Rose approaches, knocking on the passenger door with a conch. 

As they were acquainted with each other, Alice Kurusugawa immediately responded by rolling down her window. 

The first voices were made by Rose and Gabriella, who peeked into the car from the street. 

The former in particular is staring intently at Tarosuke, who is in the driver's seat.

"What are you doing here? " 

"I don't suppose you've been stalking him, have you?"

"Don't get me wrong. I was asked by a fellow colleague for advice on higher education."

When the questioning continued, Tarosuke made his excuses. 

He was in a cold sweat under Rose's gaze as he responded.

"Is the girl in the passenger seat the one I met at the hot spring resort in Atami?" 

"Her hair color was so impressive that she looks like a different person when her hair color is changed!"

It was Rose who noticed the presence of Alice Kurusugawa even early in her professional career. 

Looking at the two of them in their uniforms, she immediately responded.

"It is true that you went to the same school as Nishino-san, isn't it?"

"Isn't it obvious? There's no point in lying about something like this. " 

" Does the driver mean this girl? " 

Rose and Gabriella stand next to a car parked on the side of the road and begin to exchange a few words. A group of students wearing the same school uniforms pass by, looking at them with curiosity. 

It is not long after school, and many students can be seen near the school gate. 

As for Tarosuke, he is worried that his true identity will be discovered at any moment.

"And anyway, if you want to talk, get in the car. You guys stand out." 

"Oh, my God, you are so bold to ask a young student to get in the car with you." 

"Sister is not as young as you say."

"Shut up and get in the car." 

With a lighthearted smile, Rose and Gabriella settled into the back seat. 

After confirming this, the automobile immediately started to drive away. 

Where was the original plan? With Alice Kurusugawa in the car, the car passed the front of the school gate and continued straight down the road. Soon, when the students on their way home were out of sight on the road, Tarosuke said in a formal tone of voice.

"Now that you're all mature enough to get in the car, there's got to be something to talk about, right?" 

"I'd say there is." 

" Sister ? " 

Rose answered the driver's question in a matter-of-fact manner. Gabu-chan looked at her as if to say,  I didn't hear anything about that. Rose continued her story.

" But I don't want to talk to you. I want to talk to the girl in the passenger seat." 

"Oh, you want to talk to Alice? " 

" Do you have any plans for this weekend ?" 

" Umm, I have no plans, but ... " 

Alice Kurusugawa returns the words, seemingly unable to gauge the other's position. 

At the idol audition site in Atami, Rose and Gabriella had been in the related parties' space. They are also talking very high and mighty to Tarosuke today. This is a feat that would be impossible without being in a certain position. 

However, their young appearance also helped, and it was hard to see what position they were in. 

Perhaps she is the child of someone in the industry, but this is a misguided guess. While she would be willing to share a day off with him if she could get something in return, it is her honest desire to avoid being taken around in vain.

"Then, could you help us a little bit with our work? " 

"Sister, I don't suppose you're going to make us follow him? "

"You and I would stand out because of our skin color, wouldn't we? He will definitely notice us." 

" I don't think he will notice it right away..... " 

"I could have asked the other girl to help me, but I think he would be more likely to notice her, since he would be used to seeing her. This girl, on the other hand, would not be that big a deal yet."

Their eyes turn to Alice Kurusugawa, who is seated in the passenger seat. 

It appears that she has been selected to be the on-site observer for Nishino's entry into the party. Incidentally, the other collaborator Rose refers to is the Inchou. She is a blonde Lolita, who had unilaterally taken the account without her is approval.

"I'd prefer not to talk about anything too dangerous, if you don't mind."

"Didn't you confess to Nishino-kun at the audition hall before?"

"Did you spy on Alice? " 

"If you really mean what you said, it's not so bad for you either, right?" 

"......... What do you mean?" 

"From here on out, I'm assuming you'll take the task."

"I understand. I'd be happy to hear what you have to say." 

Alice Kurusugawa's expression changed when the presence of the Futsumen was glimpsed. Her goofy smile quickly disappeared, and she quickly became serious. She looked back at the duo seated in the back seat. 

Having confirmed the change in the other party, Rose explained the situation. 

It was Nishino's unexpected participation in a blind date party and her solicitation for the monitoring duties. 

However, if she told her honestly, she would just be a stalker. 

They could not escape being treated as perverts. 

The girls were not afraid to make a convenient adaptation to their own needs. 

After receiving a full explanation, Alice Kurusugawa muttered to herself.

"In other words, the two of you feel threatened by the fact that Nishino-san was invited to a blind date party by someone who would not normally invited him to a blind date party. But since you can't go and check on her by yourselves, you want to ask Alice to do it for you." 

" Yes, that's right." 

As for Tarosuke, who was in the driver's seat, it was a sight that made him want to rush into the scene. He thought, Why not let him have a party or two and do as they please? But he was sure to get a glare from Rose if he said so. He quietly kept his mouth shut and continued to hold the steering wheel. 

Alice Kurusugawa, on the other hand, seems to have been intrigued by Rose's explanation.

"I understand. Then Alice will be happy to cooperate with the two of you." 

"Just to be sure, Nishino-kun doesn't know about your outfit, right? "

"I'm sure it's fine. But if you are unsure, would you change your wig or something?" 

"I'll leave that up to you. I'll cover all the expenses, so I'd appreciate it if you could make the preparation for the event a top priority in order to accomplish our goal. And if you get the results you want, we'll pay you handsomely for your efforts." 

"Really? Then, Alice will do her best!" 

"If you don't mind, can we exchange contact information right here?" 

" Yes, I'd like that very much!" 

"I'll give you my contact information as well." 

The topic of the discussion brings a smile to Alice Kurusugawa's face. 

The three of them are cackling and bustling about, taking their phones out of their uniform pockets. 

Tarosuke feels it would be a shame to remain silent when this happens. Hopefully, he might be able to help Nishino. He might be able to make more contacts than ever before. Thinking of this, the handsome man's mouth naturally moved.

"Hey, if that's the case, I, too, have an open schedule this weekend....." 

"Please don't carelessly approach him on that day."

"I mean, his face is too well known to the world, and if anyone finds out, not just him, you won't be able to monitor the party. I hope you don't make the mistake of showing up at the event." 

"............"

Unfortunately, his excitement was immediately cut short. 

Unable to make a sound, Tarosuke was obliged to remain a silent driver from then on.