Chapter 46: The Charity Gala Correction

"I am not wearing this," I say. I am in my tiny apartment at 7 PM, staring at the suit. The midnight blue, "formal correction," peak lapel suit.

My phone buzzes. DEMON: You are an asset. You will wear the uniform. Be outside in ten minutes.

I groan. This is insane. I am a brawler, not a suit. But I put it on. Tanaka-san is a wizard. It fits like a second skin. I look dangerous. I look adequate.

I go outside. The Lexus is there. This time, the partition is down. Kenichi is driving. Ayako is in the passenger seat. She is not in her uniform or her training gear. My brain stalls.

She is in a dress. A real dress. Not the simple black one. This one is deep, blood red. It is simple, high-necked, but it fits her perfectly. Her hair is not in a ponytail; it is down, styled, sweeping over one shoulder. She is wearing lipstick. She is a goddess.

She turns, and her analytical gaze sweeps over me. "The uniform fits. You are acceptable."

"'Acceptable'?" I squeak. "You... you look adequate, too."

Kenichi actually chuckles from the driver's seat. Ayako's eyes flash. "Do not be problematic, Shoujo. Tonight is work."

"Right. 'Work'. Where are we working?"

"The Annual Police and Community Charity Gala," she says, her voice flat.

I just stare at her. "The what?"

"It is a neutral zone," she says. "My father is a patron. It is expected. And our pests will be there."

The car glides through the city. We pull up to a massive, five-star hotel. The entrance is swarming with reporters, politicians, and cops.

"Ayako," I whisper, my throat dry. "This is Hina's world. Her father is probably in there."

"I know," she says, her voice like ice. "That is the point. Observe. Do not talk. Be my shadow. And try to blend."

We get out. Kenichi stays with the car. We are a couple—the Yakuza Princess and her Bodyguard Anomaly. We walk in, and the entire world stops. If Ayako in a school uniform makes people stare, Ayako in a red dress stops hearts. And I am the guy in the adequate suit next to her.

Ryouji Katsumi is already there, holding court, shaking hands with the Chief of Police. They are laughing. This world is insane.

And then I see him. Kageyama. The Hitsune-kai Region Leader. He is here, in a sharp, expensive suit, smiling, talking to the same politicians. He sees Ayako. He smirks. He thinks he won. He thinks he is modern and fluid.

He walks over. "Ojou-sama," he says, his voice a smug purr. "What a pleasure. Your wrist," he says, looking at his own brace, "is it healed?"

He is mocking her. The entire room is watching. Ayako's face is a perfect, polite, goddess mask.

"Kageyama-san," she says, her voice like silk. "You are expanding your portfolio into charity now?"

"Business is business, Ojou-sama," he sneers. "The old must make way for the new. Your father's traditional methods... they are inefficient."

He is using our words. He is taunting her.

"You are correct," Ayako says, her voice so calm it is terrifying. "My father is traditional. He believes in 'honor' and 'territory'." She leans in. "I, however, am a millennial. I believe in data. And results."

"What does that mean?" Kageyama asks, his smirk faltering.

"It means," Ayako whispers, "that while you are here networking..." (she gestures) "...my anomaly..." (she glances at me, and my heart stops) "...he noticed something you did not."

Kageyama is confused.

"Your new port contract," Ayako says, her voice a deadly purr. "The one you won. Global Pacific Logistics."

Kageyama's face goes white.

"It is a shell corporation," Ayako says. "And the police..." (she nods towards the Chief) "...are very interested in their anonymous, foreign funding."

Kageyama is not breathing.

"You over-extended," she hisses. "You were sloppy. You telegraphed your move. I corrected it. An anonymous tip. From a concerned citizen."

She did it. She did not fight him. She did not hit him. She gutted him. She used Hina's 'justice' playbook against him.

Kageyama is shaking. "You bitch."

I tense. My hand clenches. Kageyama sees me.

"And you," he snarls at me. "Her pet."

He is about to lose it, about to make a move in a room full of cops.

"Kageyama-san." Ryouji Katsumi's voice. The Kaichou is standing right behind him. "My daughter... is she troubling you?"

Kageyama is trapped. He is surrounded by old power and new power. He bows. A stiff, shaking, broken bow.

"No, Kaichou," he hisses. "She is fascinating."

He turns and retreats. He is corrected.

Ayako won. She won the war. I am just staring at her. She is adequate.

She looks at me. And she smirks.