rubestie

Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Tsukasa, Kohaku, Madara, Ibara

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Tsukasa: Th, the car has stopped in front of the gate! What should we do, should we launch a valley of arrows?

Madara: Personally I would prefer doing that, but for now we should wait before resorting to such a violent solution.

It seems our visitor is someone we’re already acquainted with.

Tsukasa: Uuuhm…?

ibara

Ibara: -Kindness! Friendship! Benevolence!

Equality! Equity! World peace!

Tsukasa: Wha-

Ibara: My oh my everyone, what a great day this is! This is Ibara Saegusa, Vice President of Cosmic Productions! I am terribly repentant to have caused such a fuss this early in the morning!

Kohaku: Fer real, yer way too loud… Are ya tryin’ to overlap yer character type with Rinne-han? That’s the type of person I can’t get along well with.

Tsukasa: D, do you also prefer quiet children, Oukawa?

Kohaku: Ah? Oh, yeah. Which is why I also dislike Madara-han. He doesn’t talk as much as Rinne-han, but he makes up fer it with an awful volume.

Madara: Ouch, he went in for the kill with that one! And unprovoked, too!

Ibara: A~ah~… Right, right, right, right, I understand.

You all look a bit peeved, but I’ve mostly figured out what’s going on!

Mikejima-shi used his connections through Double Face to ask Oukawa-shi and Suou-shi for help in sheltering his ward, who also happens to be GFK’s child.

Kohaku: What’s that, are ya complainin’ or somethin’? Yer not the government, so don’t come waltzin’ inta other people’s homes and pryin’ into their business with that arrogant attitude of yers, ya hear?

tsukasa+kohaku

Tsukasa: Hey, Oukawa, House! Even if he is in a different agency from ours, he is still an important figure of ES. A certain level of hospitality is to be expected of us, no?

Ibara: If you could offer just a small amount I would be very grateful! I also do not wish to needlessly escalate matters, you see…♪

Really, as to be expected of the current head of the famous Suou family! You know perfectly well how to treat your guests! Magnificent!

Tsukara: Flattery is unneccessary. Now, what is your business here?

Ibara: It is exactly as you all have surmised. My reason for being here is that child who is currently the very center of attention.

Madara: We’re calling him by the nickname J.

Ibara: J, is it. That sounds good. By using a code name, you can avoid any unnecessary emotions.

My people were also looking into this J-san’s whereabouts. Although it is embarrassing to admit, I am the legitimate heir to inherit GFK’s fortune, after all.

Kohaku: Hah, yer bein’ ridiculous. Whaddaya mean legitimate heir? Yer just conveniently alterin’ the paperwork and twistin’ the law so ya can claim ownership of the fortune.

Ibara: …You are making it sound a lot easier than it was. Well, that level of understanding will do fine for now.

Either way, it seems some disturbing people are covertly moving in pursuit of GFK’s inheritance.

My heart hurts at the thought of J-san, who is innocent of any crime, being wrapped up in such a filthy plot.

Which is why my wish for justice led me to search for J-san’s whereabouts, and I found that Mikejima-shi was sheltering him in this place.

Kohaku: Whaddaya mean “wish for justice”, you hmfuh!?

Madara: Let’s shut our mouths and listen for a bit. If you keep butting in like this the current Zodiac will change before we’re done here.

Ibara: What a clever analogy, Mikejima-shi. Time is money and money is life itself. Wasting time is hardly a praiseworthy code of action.

Anyway. That’s the story of how I randomly searched any places Mikejima-shi seemed likely to go to, and after several failed attempts, I arrived here.

Why, I truly am delighted to finally have hit the jackpot!

Madara: For what?

Ibara: Excuse me?

Madara: For what reason were you looking for me? Depending on your answer, I might have to cancel the welcoming party.

Ibara: Of course, it was to take J-san in. From now on, I will take over custody for that child.

Madara: All of that to secure J, brainwash him, steal his inheritance and increase your own fortune?

Ibara: Would I be wrong to? Brainwashing sounds a bit too harsh, but what we are attempting to do is awfully similar, so I won’t correct your use of the word.

However, which part of that is it wrong of me to do?

The fortune this child is in line to inherit is a concept larger than he is capable of comprehending. It is sheer “power”. As long as this child is in possession of such a thing, it will inevitably lead him to ruin.

I am merely trying to remove, nay save, this child from the awful fate that has been imposed on him. Is there a problem with that?

Madara: There is a point to what you’re saying. I’ll admit that this child’s wellbeing should be prioritized above all else.

But. When I imagine the damage that could be done if this kid’s fate was to fall into the wrong hands, I cannot allow for any villains to steal it from him.

Ibara: Among those “villains” who are going after this child, I feel like I am of the more conscientious sort, though?

Let us consider this rationally, Mikejima-shi. It is for the best for this child as well to be placed under my, under Ibara Saegusa’s protection.

Madara: You’re barking up the wrong tree here.

What matters the most is this child, J’s opinion.

J, what do you want to do? Do you want to go with this spectacled young man?

Hm? Ah~... Oh, is that so? You think glasses are stinky so you don’t wanna?

madara+ibara

Ibara: What do you mean “glasses are stinky”? If Hasumi-shi heard that statement he would unlock a hitherto unseen level of rage. Don’t abuse the fact that J-san is taciturn to make up lies like that.

Madara: …Please give me some time to consider.

It’s not like I want to look after some kid for the rest of my life, and I’m obviously also not interested in GFK’s inheritance. I can earn any money I need myself.

It looks as if this kid is relying on me right now, but there are no obligations for us to stay together.

If there is someone available who could do a better job than me in protecting this child, then I should obviously entrust him to that person.

Ibara: You are right. By all means, give him here♪

I am used to taking care of children thanks to His Excellency. I also run a professional security company, so I can guarantee that I will be able to keep the child perfectly safe.

Madara: Right. That’s true, you’re very persuasive.

However, I can’t trust you based on your words alone. Our positions have switched for once, why don’t you prove your usefulness to me, Ibara Saegusa-san ♪

Ibara: …?

madara+ibara