kscans

Chapter 150 - A Casting Error

My daily work had become even more rewarding, probably thanks to having something to look forward to on the weekend. It has always been like this for me. Before a big event, I get so excited that even the most boring things seem fun with that pre-event buzz.

I know I have a simple personality. I am thirty-five, you know. But at the same time, I feel like I have a pretty good deal. All I have to do is set up some fun plans for the near future, and just like that, I can enjoy every single day.

Well, for that very reason, I worked hard again today and safely made it to the end of my shift, but...

"From Kawasaki?"

A message arrived asking if we could meet up. I had earned a ridiculous amount of affection points with her over the Obon holiday, so getting an invitation was not exactly strange. But the message being just an invitation felt a little off. The Kawasaki I knew was the type of girl who would ramble on in long texts even when I had not asked. Did something happen? Growing a little worried, I headed to the coffee shop she designated as our meeting spot.

"Ah, Satou-san. Good evening."

Kawasaki, who had been resting her chin on her hand at a back table looking bored, saw me and gave a weak smile. I was surprised. A woman who forges her own path without a care for others, that is Kawasaki. For that same Kawasaki to be making a bored face... what, what in the world happened?

"Oh, good evening. Are you alright?"

"? What do you mean?"

"I do not know, just something feels off."

I sat down across from her and saw the water glasses. Huh? Three of them? She knew I was coming, so two would not be strange, but what was with the three? Looking closer, I saw a plain but expensive-looking formal handbag sitting next to her. It was a design that would go well with a kimono, but I could not imagine a woman who wears a lab coat over her kimono caring about whether things match or not.

"Is someone else here?"

"Ah, yes. Actually," she began to say, her tone somewhat listless.

"Ah, so you have arrived."

A graceful girl was looking my way, her hand covering her mouth. Was she about the same age as Kawasaki? She was a classic Japanese beauty, a different type from Kawasaki. While Kawasaki had long hair in a princess cut, this girl had a bob. She was also wearing a kimono, but unlike Kawasaki, she was not wearing a wacky lab coat over it. She was the picture of orthodoxy.

(They are total opposites.)

Seeing a classic Yamato Nadeshiko, so different from the eccentric Yamato Nadeshiko that was Kawasaki, sent my good mood meter soaring.

"Oh, my apologies. I should introduce myself first. I am,"

"This is Ichijo-san."

Before the woman could open her mouth, Kawasaki spoke, still sipping from the straw in her orange juice. You... you are a grown woman, you should have better manners than that. When you ate at my place, your use of chopsticks was impeccable. Becoming childish the moment you are in a bad mood or feeling detached is a bit much. No, wait, this is kind of cute in its own way. Just as I was thinking that...

"She is a honey trap agent dispatched from Kyoto to seduce you, Satou-san."

That outrageous statement blew all my other thoughts away.

"Wha, wha-wha-what!? What are you...!!"

"Well, all I was asked to do was arrange for her to meet you, Satou-san. And they did not tell me to keep it a secret."

Of course they would not tell you that. That is something you should understand without being told. Not that I mind, since it is helpful for me. In any case, I now understood the reason for Kawasaki's attitude. She was being forced to waste her time on something pointless.

"Uh, um... well..."

"Well, have a seat. Or you can run, if you like."

I urged her with a bit of pressure in my voice, and the woman, Ichijo, sat down with a pale face. It seemed the ancient capital would be spared from becoming a city of vice for now. Even for me, I had some hesitation about dropping Ura-Shinjuku's morals to rock bottom, even if it was just the back alleys.

"Still, Kawasaki. What possessed you to accept a job like this?"

I was not blaming her. In fact, I was a little moved. She was probably caught up in some obligation she could not refuse. To think she possessed that level of social grace... ah, I think I am going to cry a little.

"I did not want to either, but this woman, or rather, an acquaintance of hers, was a very important client of mine back when I was in the west."

"I get the gist."

Money. Money is indispensable for a fulfilling robot life. That important client probably still throws some work her way now and then. I imagine it is their way of keeping their connection to a talented person like Kawasaki from being severed.

"As expected of Satou-san. My one and only bestie!!"

"Yeah, yeah, thanks. By the way, were you approached with anything else?"

"I was."

"Wha!?"

"Silence."

With a snap of my fingers, Ichijo's mouth was sewn shut. There was no pain. I am a gentleman, after all. Even if she was trying to set a honey trap for me, a woman is still a woman. Well, once a certain line is crossed, gender does not really matter anymore, buhehe.

"They asked if I would come back to Kyoto."

"Why is that?"

"Who knows? I do not know the details, but maybe they are planning to make a move on the east?"

"Oh?"

Come to think of it, she did say the Kyoto folks were aiming for a comeback. They probably wanted to recruit a fighter like Kawasaki for that purpose. I mean, I get it... I get it but... there is one thing I just cannot understand. I restored Ichijo's mouth and posed my question.

"You guys... why on earth did you decide to use Kawasaki, of all people?"

This is not just a casting error... If I were the leader of an organization, I would never use someone like Kawasaki. If someone suggested it, I would have their head on the spot. I mean that in the "you are fired" sense. Because no matter how you look at it, she is not suited for it. Willingly taking on an unpredictable bombshell like her is just idiotic.

"B, but... Kawasaki-san... what happened to you? What in the world happened in Tokyo..."

It seemed everything had exceeded her capacity. Ichijo, her face pale, began to fret over Kawasaki in a fluster.

(Was she putting on an act?)

No, that is not it. She is not skilled enough to pull something like that off. She was complaining about men who only pretend to share her interests, so she probably was not hiding her love for robots. In that case...

"...Kawasaki, back when you were over there, did you ever talk about your dream?"

"? Of course not. Nobody tells the person they are surprising about the plans for their surprise party, right?"

Looking at the bewildered Kawasaki, I understood. Ah, so there was an unfortunate misunderstanding... Now that she mentioned it, as long as robots were not involved, she was just a normal, refined lady. That is why they got the wrong idea. They thought Kawasaki was a sane person. The only reason she did not go on a rampage with her robot was because I stopped her beforehand. I reported it to the Mutual Aid Society, but the chairman did not spread the story around so as not to provoke her or any other ill-intentioned groups. If there was never any chance for them to find out, then I could understand why they would try to use Kawasaki.

"No, wait a minute. I want to ask something. How did the people in the west know that you and I were close?"

"I am sorry about that. During some small talk after work, I got carried away and mentioned I had found someone who understands me."

Something like, "There is this person, Satou-san, who is really nice to me," I suppose. And even then, Kawasaki's craziness did not come to light, which led to this mess... In a way, it was a fine play. Kawasaki nipped all their troublesome schemes in the bud herself.

"Um... what do you mean...?"

"Ichijo, was it? I doubt you know this, but this woman right here was planning to ride a giant robot and go on a rampage right in the middle of Shinjuku."

"..."

"Heheh."

Ichijo stared at the smug Kawasaki as if she were looking at an unbelievable idiot.

"Th, that... was she..."

"Naturally, there were no measures like quarantine taken. I just happened to be there and noticed it appear, so I quarantined her myself."

When I answered, Ichijo collapsed onto the table and cradled her head.

"H, how... how am I supposed to report this...!!"

It was enough to make a man cry.