Chapter 52:
Chapter 53 — The Visit
My New Home
◽The Next Day◽ (Sunday, 7 August 2050)
Youngmi walked into the living room of JJ's house. 「Hey, J— oh.」 She stopped, genuinely surprised by JJ’s guest. 「Olivia Miller?」Olivia, cooking casually in the kitchen, replied. 「Yes.」Youngmi scoffed, bewildered. 「What’s the Governor of California doing in Japan, at the house of a high Militian official?」Olivia giggled. 「Oh, you know, Nic... he loves himself a good Beef Stroganoff.」Youngmi: 「Oh, wow, I didn't know, but that doesn't answer my question.」Olivia looked intently at Youngmi's tummy, then at her ring finger. 「Hmm... You and your husband expecting?」Youngmi hesitated slightly. 「Yes, we are.」Olivia laughed softly, a knowing warmth in her eyes. 「I see. Your secret is safe with me. Besides, it’s also why I’m here.」Youngmi gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. 「So, are you pregnant?」Olivia sighed, a mixture of hope and anxious anticipation in her voice. 「Honestly, we have to wait and see, but Nic's been a man of his word.」Youngmi smiled, immediately feeling a powerful bond. 「You're right. Say, you want some help?」「Sure, I'd appreciate it.」
◽30 Minutes Later◽
Olivia and Youngmi were setting the table when JJ and the others came down to the dining room.
Jiyeon was flustered, her eyes wide with shame. 「M-Mother...」Youngmi looked at Jiyeon, suddenly suspicious. 「I know me being here is unexpected, but why does it sound like today you don't want to see me?」Jiyeon blushed profusely, stammering. 「Th-that’s... it’s not!」Youngmi looked at Miyeon with a sharp, questioning gaze. 「Don't tell me your younger twin sister did something that unknowingly involved drugs?」Miyeon giggled, deliberately raising the tension. 「No, it’s not that. But what she did do was participate in a three-person group activity!」Youngmi turned to JJ curiously, her expression a mix of judgment and fascination. 「So, this is what you do now?」JJ shrugged nonchalantly, playing up the shock factor. 「I mean, I did say she didn't have to do it, but she joined us anyway, and let's just say, I'm daddy now!」Jiyeon was thoroughly embarrassed, her face scarlet. 「JJ!」 She punched him hard on his left arm.JJ laughed it off. 「Sorry, but it's true, though!」Jiyeon: 「But still, don't tell my mom!」 They all took seats around the table.Hana giggled. 「She’s right, JJ. I’d feel the same if he told that about me to your mom, too!」Jiyeon, confused, asked. 「Don’t you mean your mom?」Hana: 「What? No!」 She chuckled, a strange defiance in her tone. 「After meeting JJ, I became my mother's daughter!」Mei, utterly confused, asked. 「What does that mean?」Hana sipped her juice, a cold realization dawning in her eyes. 「Ever hear me tell JJ to visit my mom with me?」Mei gasped. 「No!」Hana scoffed playfully. 「It’s like I said: I am my mother's daughter!」Mei was shocked. 「Are you serious?」Hana laughed, the implication heavy. 「Yah. She told us she would, to our faces!」Youngmi giggled, a shiver running down her spine. 「Now that you mention it, Yui always did say she can't wait till they grew up into adults so she could have them!」JJ: 「Yah, I’ve never seen my own mother that distorted before—and we ended up tortured a few years after that.」Iris, a projection of her appearing from JJ’s phone, cut in. ⟦Excuse me, Dad.⟧JJ: 「Oh, Iris, what’s up?」Iris: ⟦There’s a Riyuka Tachibana and the rest of Hana’s friends at the gate.⟧JJ: 「Invite them in. I know them.」
◽30 Minutes Later◽
JJ was in the living room. 「Riyuka, I hope the wait wasn't that long.」Riyuka: 「Tch. At least you know how to be a good host.」 She noticed the absence of Shizuko and her teammates. 「So, your daughter's not here, or her soccer teammates?」JJ chuckled. 「They're at an amusement park. Since the kidnapping didn't happen at my place, their parents let them stay. It’s also because my dogs made sure no one here got hurt.」Riyuka glared at JJ, hostile. 「Tch. Don't flatter yourself. None of this would've happened if you were here!」JJ chuckled, unbothered. 「You do realize that my house would've been a warzone, right? Plus, there were thirty-plus children from influential families here.」Riyuka sighed in exasperation. 「What are you trying to say?」JJ: 「The outcome you saw was the best given the situation.」Riyuka stood up sharply, fury barely contained. 「The best outcome?!」Sai, nervous, intervened. 「Er... Tachibana senpai, he does have a point when you think about it. Some of those girls are from politician families and conglomerates.」Minato nodded in agreement. 「I know I'm not that smart compared to Sai, but even I know that would be a political shit storm.」JJ: 「True. Not to mention Militia is always war ready. So, Riyuka, let me ask you: what do you think Militia’s first response will be if they found out that an heiress to my family's conglomerate—that being Shizuko—was kidnapped?」Riyuka rolled her eyes. 「Tch, I don't know!」JJ chuckled, his smile vanishing as his tone dropped to something icy. 「Okay, let me put it like this: the Emperor is like a brother to me, so my kids would be like his niblings.」 He became deadly serious. 「So, what do you think would happen if he found out that his nieces were harmed?」Riyuka gasped in shock, the depth of the threat hitting her. 「You don't mean... no, he wouldn't!」JJ: 「There's a lot of reasons why I was sent to Japan, Riyuka. He’s one of them. You know that old saying about reputation, right?」Riyuka was confused. 「Err... yah. 'It takes you forever to build a reputation, but it only takes one second to destroy it.' What does that have to do with this?」JJ smiled, but in a cold, unsettling way. 「You can say the same about peace, too, right?」Riyuka was shocked. 「What are you trying to say?!」JJ: 「It's like I said: Militia is always war ready!」Mikado sighed, desperate to break the tension. 「Alright, enough with the doom and gloom. What about the reporters outside your gates?」JJ shrugged casually. 「I dunno. Wait, no... I don't care! If they'll stay there all day, I won't stop them.」Olivia walked into the living room, concerned. 「Oye, JJ, hay un poco de problema (Hey, JJ, there's a bit of a problem.)」JJ was instantly cautious. 「Qué es (What is it?)」Olivia: 「Casi todas las principales estaciones de noticias de los Estados Unidos están aquí (Almost every major news station from the States are here.)」JJ: 「Oh, ya veo. Bueno, quédate aquí hasta que mueran, además no te preocupes, yo me encargo (Oh, I see. Well, stay here until they die down, plus don't worry, I'll handle it.)」Olivia giggled at his confidence. 「¿De dónde sacas la confianza que tienes? (Where do you get the confidence you have?)」JJ scoffed boastfully. 「Tengo un padre que no era un hombrecito débil (I have a father who wasn't a weak little man.)」Olivia laughed softly. 「Tiene sentido (Figures.)」 She then went to join Hana and the others.Sakura: 「So, JJ, you know Spanish?」JJ: 「Of course. I know every language ever spoken on this planet. It's light work, actually.」Sakura rolled her eyes. 「Lucky you.」JJ chuckled, then his demeanor grew serious once more. 「But seriously, though, promise me—not for my sake, but for your friends’ sake, Hana, the twins, and Mei—you won't engage with the media no matter what they offer you.」Sakura, concerned by his earnestness, asked. 「What are you trying to say?」JJ: 「If you care about their well-being, then you’ll shut it when the media try to press you.」Riyuka sighed, the hostility returning. 「Tch. None of this would be necessary if you weren't in their lives!」JJ scoffed, accepting the truth. 「True, but if I wasn't, you wouldn't hate me as much as you do now. So, as the person I love to hate, promise me you won't say shit.」Riyuka laughed, seeing an opportunity. 「You’re going to have to pay me to do that!」JJ laughed. 「How about an executive position in one of the businesses I own?」Riyuka scoffed dramatically. 「That won’t do.」 【No way, he's actually thinking about it! Let's see how far I can push it.】 「Forty percent ownership in a new business idea I have, plus you fully sponsor it after I graduate.」JJ thought about it, a slow smirk spreading across his face. 「Hmm... So I get sixty percent?」Riyuka, trying to hide her shock, stammered. 「Y-yah, you get sixty percent.」JJ chuckled, then stood up, towering over her. 「Alright, Ms. Tachibana, I need you to understand: I don't take kindly to people who waste my money.」 He winked at her.Riyuka blushed profusely. 【Tch, I hate that I'm flustered right now.】 「I’m not sleeping with you!」JJ burst out in laughter. 「I know! Last thing I need is turning Mikado into an NTR victim.」 He looked straight at Mikado. 「You better stick your dick inside of her before she finds someone else who will!」 He left and walked outside to face the media.Riyuka, blushing uncontrollably, stammered. 「I’m going to look for Hana. C’mon, Sakura!」Sakura was hesitant but followed. 「Oh, okay!」 The two of them left to look for Hana and the others.Mikado was left blushing and bewildered. 「Renji, be honest...」Renji laughed, slapping him on the back. 「Yah, bro, we all know you two have the hots for each other, but JJ is right! You better make your move before Riyuka gets taken away from you!」
Youngmi walked into the living room of JJ's house. 「Hey, J— oh.」 She stopped, genuinely surprised by JJ’s guest. 「Olivia Miller?」Olivia, cooking casually in the kitchen, replied. 「Yes.」Youngmi scoffed, bewildered. 「What’s the Governor of California doing in Japan, at the house of a high Militian official?」Olivia giggled. 「Oh, you know, Nic... he loves himself a good Beef Stroganoff.」Youngmi: 「Oh, wow, I didn't know, but that doesn't answer my question.」Olivia looked intently at Youngmi's tummy, then at her ring finger. 「Hmm... You and your husband expecting?」Youngmi hesitated slightly. 「Yes, we are.」Olivia laughed softly, a knowing warmth in her eyes. 「I see. Your secret is safe with me. Besides, it’s also why I’m here.」Youngmi gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. 「So, are you pregnant?」Olivia sighed, a mixture of hope and anxious anticipation in her voice. 「Honestly, we have to wait and see, but Nic's been a man of his word.」Youngmi smiled, immediately feeling a powerful bond. 「You're right. Say, you want some help?」「Sure, I'd appreciate it.」
◽30 Minutes Later◽
Olivia and Youngmi were setting the table when JJ and the others came down to the dining room.
Jiyeon was flustered, her eyes wide with shame. 「M-Mother...」Youngmi looked at Jiyeon, suddenly suspicious. 「I know me being here is unexpected, but why does it sound like today you don't want to see me?」Jiyeon blushed profusely, stammering. 「Th-that’s... it’s not!」Youngmi looked at Miyeon with a sharp, questioning gaze. 「Don't tell me your younger twin sister did something that unknowingly involved drugs?」Miyeon giggled, deliberately raising the tension. 「No, it’s not that. But what she did do was participate in a three-person group activity!」Youngmi turned to JJ curiously, her expression a mix of judgment and fascination. 「So, this is what you do now?」JJ shrugged nonchalantly, playing up the shock factor. 「I mean, I did say she didn't have to do it, but she joined us anyway, and let's just say, I'm daddy now!」Jiyeon was thoroughly embarrassed, her face scarlet. 「JJ!」 She punched him hard on his left arm.JJ laughed it off. 「Sorry, but it's true, though!」Jiyeon: 「But still, don't tell my mom!」 They all took seats around the table.Hana giggled. 「She’s right, JJ. I’d feel the same if he told that about me to your mom, too!」Jiyeon, confused, asked. 「Don’t you mean your mom?」Hana: 「What? No!」 She chuckled, a strange defiance in her tone. 「After meeting JJ, I became my mother's daughter!」Mei, utterly confused, asked. 「What does that mean?」Hana sipped her juice, a cold realization dawning in her eyes. 「Ever hear me tell JJ to visit my mom with me?」Mei gasped. 「No!」Hana scoffed playfully. 「It’s like I said: I am my mother's daughter!」Mei was shocked. 「Are you serious?」Hana laughed, the implication heavy. 「Yah. She told us she would, to our faces!」Youngmi giggled, a shiver running down her spine. 「Now that you mention it, Yui always did say she can't wait till they grew up into adults so she could have them!」JJ: 「Yah, I’ve never seen my own mother that distorted before—and we ended up tortured a few years after that.」Iris, a projection of her appearing from JJ’s phone, cut in. ⟦Excuse me, Dad.⟧JJ: 「Oh, Iris, what’s up?」Iris: ⟦There’s a Riyuka Tachibana and the rest of Hana’s friends at the gate.⟧JJ: 「Invite them in. I know them.」
◽30 Minutes Later◽
JJ was in the living room. 「Riyuka, I hope the wait wasn't that long.」Riyuka: 「Tch. At least you know how to be a good host.」 She noticed the absence of Shizuko and her teammates. 「So, your daughter's not here, or her soccer teammates?」JJ chuckled. 「They're at an amusement park. Since the kidnapping didn't happen at my place, their parents let them stay. It’s also because my dogs made sure no one here got hurt.」Riyuka glared at JJ, hostile. 「Tch. Don't flatter yourself. None of this would've happened if you were here!」JJ chuckled, unbothered. 「You do realize that my house would've been a warzone, right? Plus, there were thirty-plus children from influential families here.」Riyuka sighed in exasperation. 「What are you trying to say?」JJ: 「The outcome you saw was the best given the situation.」Riyuka stood up sharply, fury barely contained. 「The best outcome?!」Sai, nervous, intervened. 「Er... Tachibana senpai, he does have a point when you think about it. Some of those girls are from politician families and conglomerates.」Minato nodded in agreement. 「I know I'm not that smart compared to Sai, but even I know that would be a political shit storm.」JJ: 「True. Not to mention Militia is always war ready. So, Riyuka, let me ask you: what do you think Militia’s first response will be if they found out that an heiress to my family's conglomerate—that being Shizuko—was kidnapped?」Riyuka rolled her eyes. 「Tch, I don't know!」JJ chuckled, his smile vanishing as his tone dropped to something icy. 「Okay, let me put it like this: the Emperor is like a brother to me, so my kids would be like his niblings.」 He became deadly serious. 「So, what do you think would happen if he found out that his nieces were harmed?」Riyuka gasped in shock, the depth of the threat hitting her. 「You don't mean... no, he wouldn't!」JJ: 「There's a lot of reasons why I was sent to Japan, Riyuka. He’s one of them. You know that old saying about reputation, right?」Riyuka was confused. 「Err... yah. 'It takes you forever to build a reputation, but it only takes one second to destroy it.' What does that have to do with this?」JJ smiled, but in a cold, unsettling way. 「You can say the same about peace, too, right?」Riyuka was shocked. 「What are you trying to say?!」JJ: 「It's like I said: Militia is always war ready!」Mikado sighed, desperate to break the tension. 「Alright, enough with the doom and gloom. What about the reporters outside your gates?」JJ shrugged casually. 「I dunno. Wait, no... I don't care! If they'll stay there all day, I won't stop them.」Olivia walked into the living room, concerned. 「Oye, JJ, hay un poco de problema (Hey, JJ, there's a bit of a problem.)」JJ was instantly cautious. 「Qué es (What is it?)」Olivia: 「Casi todas las principales estaciones de noticias de los Estados Unidos están aquí (Almost every major news station from the States are here.)」JJ: 「Oh, ya veo. Bueno, quédate aquí hasta que mueran, además no te preocupes, yo me encargo (Oh, I see. Well, stay here until they die down, plus don't worry, I'll handle it.)」Olivia giggled at his confidence. 「¿De dónde sacas la confianza que tienes? (Where do you get the confidence you have?)」JJ scoffed boastfully. 「Tengo un padre que no era un hombrecito débil (I have a father who wasn't a weak little man.)」Olivia laughed softly. 「Tiene sentido (Figures.)」 She then went to join Hana and the others.Sakura: 「So, JJ, you know Spanish?」JJ: 「Of course. I know every language ever spoken on this planet. It's light work, actually.」Sakura rolled her eyes. 「Lucky you.」JJ chuckled, then his demeanor grew serious once more. 「But seriously, though, promise me—not for my sake, but for your friends’ sake, Hana, the twins, and Mei—you won't engage with the media no matter what they offer you.」Sakura, concerned by his earnestness, asked. 「What are you trying to say?」JJ: 「If you care about their well-being, then you’ll shut it when the media try to press you.」Riyuka sighed, the hostility returning. 「Tch. None of this would be necessary if you weren't in their lives!」JJ scoffed, accepting the truth. 「True, but if I wasn't, you wouldn't hate me as much as you do now. So, as the person I love to hate, promise me you won't say shit.」Riyuka laughed, seeing an opportunity. 「You’re going to have to pay me to do that!」JJ laughed. 「How about an executive position in one of the businesses I own?」Riyuka scoffed dramatically. 「That won’t do.」 【No way, he's actually thinking about it! Let's see how far I can push it.】 「Forty percent ownership in a new business idea I have, plus you fully sponsor it after I graduate.」JJ thought about it, a slow smirk spreading across his face. 「Hmm... So I get sixty percent?」Riyuka, trying to hide her shock, stammered. 「Y-yah, you get sixty percent.」JJ chuckled, then stood up, towering over her. 「Alright, Ms. Tachibana, I need you to understand: I don't take kindly to people who waste my money.」 He winked at her.Riyuka blushed profusely. 【Tch, I hate that I'm flustered right now.】 「I’m not sleeping with you!」JJ burst out in laughter. 「I know! Last thing I need is turning Mikado into an NTR victim.」 He looked straight at Mikado. 「You better stick your dick inside of her before she finds someone else who will!」 He left and walked outside to face the media.Riyuka, blushing uncontrollably, stammered. 「I’m going to look for Hana. C’mon, Sakura!」Sakura was hesitant but followed. 「Oh, okay!」 The two of them left to look for Hana and the others.Mikado was left blushing and bewildered. 「Renji, be honest...」Renji laughed, slapping him on the back. 「Yah, bro, we all know you two have the hots for each other, but JJ is right! You better make your move before Riyuka gets taken away from you!」
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