Uncovering & undercover.

"This is odd.. Nearly enough to give me a headache."

"Ojou-sama ?"

"Hm? Sorry nevermind Shion, you don't need to worry about me. It's no big deal really."

"If you say so then I will take your word for it.
On another note, I was about to make dinner but would you like to take a bath in the meantime ?"

"Yeah good point, let's do that. And you can drop the honorifics now that it's just the two of us by the way."

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"Damn.. Nothing is more valuable than having such a large bath at home."

I gotta say, even if I tried not to worry Shion needlessly about my concerns, I can't get those past two days out of my head... I may only be nineteen but I consider that I have already met my fair share of disturbing people and still, this guy remains a completetely unfathomable entity to me. Random and yet disturbingly consistant, never taken aback, never afraid. 
He looks listless but is in fact more curious than anyone else, looks confident but is the most cautious, and last but not least, you'd swear he's a total stranger to everything regarding human relationships, oblivious to love and hate, but then again he's fully aware of those and even makes you feel like there is nothing he doesn't grasp. All with that absent yet piercing gaze of his, the perfect poker face, emotionless in both body and soul.

"Ahhh...Simply thinking about him gives me a whole day worth of exhaustion I swear.."

knock knock

"Oh my bad, is dinner ready Shion ?"

"Yes everything is set downstairs, but I was wondering if you'd mind If I joined you for a bit before we proceed."

"I don't mind obviously, but is it fine ? I mean won't the dishes turn cold ?"

"Don't worry, since today was warmer than usual I thought I'd work on some lighter and colder recipes."

Shion sure is something herself. When she's skilled enough to carry the role of head-maid in this household, she is also highly considerate towards me and still is able to be both frank and down to earth nevertheless. She is one year older than me and has been by my side since even before I inherited the family business, I consider her my older sister as much as my closest friend and ally.

"You know, no matter how much I get to see that body of yours, I just can't get enough of the sight. I'd pay a lot to become a man just to hit on you, you know ?"

"You would need to be blind to find appeal in a woman with so much scars. Even brothels wouldn't hire me I am sure."

"And it's for the best, since I'm not letting anyone have you anyway. Now come here, its time for retribution."

"Yes, Hana"

                                                                                

At times like these, Hanami would often empty her mind. Pressed against me, sometimes hugging me, baths were the opportunity for her, more than anyone, to let loose. I'd often join her in this occasion, both as part of my duty and because I am concerned about her.
Well, that's not exactly my honest thoughts. In truth I think what I desire is to stay by her side and share her worries. On top of being like an older sister, I want to be her dearest friend, I want to treasure her, and her to treasure me. She is the only one who trusts in me, so i want to be the first one to trust in her.

However this time she met someone, someone she cannot begin to understand. She feels like she can naturally trust this person, but at the same time this very thought is frightening in itself. Where does that confidence come from ? What if he was actually dangerous ? So far as I can tell, this Haruka doesn't look nor sound like the type of person to let himself be involved with his peers so much that there could be any commotion between them. But that same disposition does also mean he cannot easily be considered an ally either, and that indeed is quite concerning.

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"Mh.. How unsightly indeed. What happened to me to wake up with such a face ? "

Not long after that extra ride Hanami-san gave me, I felt so extraordinarily tired for some reason and dove right in my bed. And now after four hours of rest I wake up to my face looking like that of a drug addict after the first week of his cure. Looking tired but feeling lighter.
In the last twenty-four hours, I slept for a total of fifteen hours. I don't understand. I never actually felt like I had a load on my back I coudn't get rid of, but right now I can't help but think I may just have never realized it was the case. And on top of it I can't make what that burden could have been, which also implies it might prove even harder to know what removed it.

"It's no use looking for answers when I have no leads.. But now that I am wide awake I think I will use this energy to go and have a look around the second district for once."

So far since I moved to this city, I only ever went there to meet the tailor in charge of the academy's uniforms, or to buy some spare underwear. Maybe going out of my way will help me get a hold on these feelings I fail to comprehend.. Which reminds me, I wanted to find the opportunity to meet Tanabe-san again to hear more about what happened the other day so let's do that first.

"Or not.. Already 1am huh. Which means the matter with Tanabe-san will have to wait for tomorrow at the very least. Although I heard there was a specific section in the second district that was still active at night. Let's hope that will do to kill some time since I won't be able to sleep anytime soon"


April 5, 2060 - Fukuoka's 2nd District - 3:00 am

It sure is lively around here.. If I expected to find somewhere to be so active at this time of the day. However I have to say, I don't really understand what is going on. Are we celebrating something today ? I am pretty sure I know of all the major events usually taking place throughout the year, but lets remember them in order just in ca-.

"Hey pretty boy, is this your first time here ?  Why don't you meet me at the bar over there ? You can watch me perform for the next hour and then we can hang out somewhere quieter if you'd like.."

A walking hologram ? Was it not under development ? And what's with this proposition anyway? Does that bar come with some sort of brothel service ? I am not interested in that kind of thing however this got me curious, let's take a quick look inside and be off.

"Yes this is my first time here but I don't have a lot of time ahead of me so I'll come but for a short time only, thank you."

"Aww.. shy, ain't we ? Let me scan your wristband and you are good to go."

Speaking of which, this is the first time that this wristband has proven useful outside of school. I honestly still don't understand what it does exactly to be honest. At school you scan it at the gates to confirm your identity and you can use it instead of actual money if you register you credit card in it, but my parents always told me to make sure I use cash as much as possible so I never really got to use the strap for that purpose. Anyway from what I understand, the hologram of this woman is made to roam around the alleyway and to promote the place she is working at, while her actual self is "performing" over there. I will still take a quick look as I intended and be off.

"I guess this is here.."

"What ?!"

"Hm ?"

Was that Shion-san ? I highly doubt it but between the tone of their voice and their build, my assumption doesn't seem too far-fetched either. What do I do ? Do I want to chase after them and confirm it for myself, or do I want to resume my investigation from earlier ?

"It's already bugging me, let's chase after her."

While I scout closer I should avoid looking suspicious, but that's a great opportunity since I want to uncover what this place is all about. Let's look around.

"Bars, hotels, Casinos.. There are a few restaurants too but this doesn't look like the main attraction for those who come here."

It took me some time to make it a certainty but now that's settled, I found myself in Fukuoka's entertainment district. Now I wonder what would Shion-san be doing here of all places if my guess proved to be correct. Maybe does she work as a waitress in those restaurants ? or as a bartender perhaps ? In any case I am now eager to find out.

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Wait, is he who I think he is ? Morine Haruka ?
Today was such a busy day that I ended up leaving Ojou-sama's headquarters later than usual, and of all people, I meet him here ? Now considering how he seemed to be spacing out in front of the brothel, it might be from the hesitation which could mean this is the first time he comes around here, perhaps after loosing his way. But then what would he be doing in the second district so late at night when Ojou-sama dropped him at the dormitories earlier.. I have to consider the possibility he is a regular here. If that is the case I must be vigilant in order for him not to discover me.

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I may have left too much distance between the two of us, this is getting harder to tell where she is heading.

"Ah looks like she entered that building, let's see.. Wait, a casino ?"

Now my curiosity won't be satisfied with that, I must follow her inside and see for myself.