Chapter 79: The Invitation

We are grounded.

Well, I am. My parents are furious. Not about the protest, but about the arrest. Toujo is also grounded. Rika is grounded just for being there.

Hiroto is in "agency jail," which means he is on a mandatory "health retreat" with no phone.

Daiki is the only one free. He is currently... in my room. With us.

"How did you get in?" I ask.

"Your window was open," Daiki grunts, setting up his laptop. "Your security is terrible."

"We are banned!" Toujo groans, lying on my floor. "We lost! He is in there. We are out here. The war is over!"

"It is not over," I say, pacing. "He laughed. He grinned. He is fighting."

"But how?" Rika asks. "We cannot get in. We are trespassers now."

"We need a new plan!" Toujo says, jumping up. "Okay, hear me out. Trojan Horse. But... it is a giant cake. And I am inside!"

"You would eat your way out before we got past the gates," I mutter.

"Bzzzt."

My dads phone.

No. My dad is downstairs.

That is my phone.

Daikis phone.

His pro gamer phone.

He looks at it.

He freezes.

"Daiki? What is it?" Rika asks.

"It is... an email," Daiki stammers. His face is pale.

"From... the Imperial Household Agency."

We all stop.

"READ IT!" we all shout.

Daiki clears his throat. He reads.

"Dear Hanata-san, also known as Deception. His Imperial Highness, Prince Kenji, requests the honor of your presence... as the guest of honor... at the first annual Imperial Charity E-Sports Invitational... to be held at the Akasaka Palace."

Silence.

Toujo faints.

Rika catches him.

"He... he is inviting you IN?" Rika gasps.

"He is not inviting me," Daiki says, a slow, dangerous smirk spreading across his face. "He is inviting my main rival. He is bringing me to his home turf. He wants a rematch."

"This is it!" I yell. "This is his plan!"

"AOI! PHONE!" my mom yells from downstairs.

"I AM GROUNDED!" I yell back.

"ITS YOUR FATHERS BOSS! IT SOUNDS IMPORTANT!"

I freeze. I run downstairs.

I skid into the kitchen. My mom is holding the phone, looking terrified. My dad is on it.

"Yes, Takahashi-san... Yes, I understand... The PALACE? Me? Co-sponsor?... An honor? Yes, of course!... My family? You want me to bring my FAMILY?"

My dad looks at me. His eyes are huge.

"Yes, sir. She will be on her best behavior. Thank you, sir!"

He hangs up.

He stares at me.

"Aoi..." he says, his voice shaky. "That was my CEO. The Palace is hosting a gaming event. Prince Kenji requested... our company... by name. And they are inviting me, and my family, as VIP guests."

He is bringing Daiki.

He is bringing my dad.

He is bringing... me.

He knew his father would ban me. So he found a loophole. I am not invited as Aoi. I am invited as my father’s plus-one.

That cunning, brilliant, Ice Prince jerk.

He did not just declare war.

He just sent us our battle plan.