Chapter 44

After that.

Since it was lunchtime, Yugen and the others decided to have a meal together at a nearby café.

“Pfft!!”

After placing their orders.

Amisa’s face made Tenko burst out laughing softly.

She turned away, her shoulders shaking as she let out a giggle.

“Nageli, can you please stop laughing? ...My leg hurts.”

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

It sounded like Amisa was kicking Yugen’s leg repeatedly.

With a pouting face.

She was trying to show that she was angry.

Since she couldn’t take it out on Tenko, who wasn’t very close to her, her anger was directed at Yugen.

“Hey, Amisa. I do feel bad, but if you hadn’t asked Nageli, you wouldn’t have been able to go pick the flowers, right?”

“...I could have gone.”

“Then, can you go once more, just for a bit?”

“...”

Amisa averted her eyes, looking uncomfortable.

It seemed that the fear hadn’t completely subsided, and she couldn’t go to the bathroom alone.

Seeing the exchange between Yugen and Amisa, Tenko started laughing again.

It seemed she had found it hilarious.

(…A devilish woman, huh.)

Yugen felt he understood why Sei had described her that way.

She certainly wasn’t the type with a good personality.

…Though if asked whether Sei had a good personality, he would have to say no as well, so in a way, they were a good match.

“You two seem to get along quite well, Yugen.”

As expected.

Sei asked Yugen with a sly smile.

Of course, the excuse “We just happened to meet at the cinema” wouldn’t work here.

“You two look like a couple.”

Saying this, Tenko narrowed her eyes.

The previously gentle and reserved aura was gone, replaced by a slightly evil smile.

“We’re not a couple.”

“That’s right.”

Yugen and Amisa firmly denied it.

However, Sei and Tenko didn’t seem to believe them.

They both had the expression of “Oh, you’re saying that again,” as if they were a couple.

“You two also go to the cinema together, right?”

Yugen asked Sei and Tenko.

In response… it seemed they had decided there was no point in hiding it anymore, and they shrugged.

“Do you know that Ryosenji and Nageli are currently in a business partnership?”

“Business, what a nice way to put it.”

“It’s a business partnership.”

Sei said to Yugen, almost defiantly.

Amisa, sensing something ominous, asked Sei and Tenko.

“What do Ryosenji and Nageli’s parents do for a living?”

They both answered with a straight face.

“My family is in the staffing business.”

“Counseling, I guess.”

“Hmm…”

The kind-hearted Amisa was easily deceived, so Yugen spoke the truth.

“In short, they’re yakuza and a cult.”

“...”

Amisa’s face contorted in shock.

She whispered in a small voice.

“...Was that why my adoptive father told me to be careful? I see.”

However, both Yugen and Amisa seemed to have some complaints.

First, Sei voiced her grievance.

“My family isn’t even designated under the Anti-Organized Crime Law, so we’re not yakuza. Besides, we’ve never broken the law. Don’t use misleading terms. We’re a staffing agency, and that’s a fact.”

“The cult label is just a stigma. I’d like you to stop using it. I admit we’re a new religion, but we don’t do anything suspicious. We’re a legitimate and healthy religious organization. We might be minor in Kanto, but we have a fair number of followers in Kansai.”

“Ah, I see. Got it, got it. I’m sorry.”

Since both of them had a serious look, Yugen raised his hands in surrender.

It was a fact that Ryosenji wasn’t designated under the Anti-Organized Crime Law—meaning they weren’t strictly yakuza—and that Nageli’s religion didn’t engage in antisocial activities.

“But still, your family is pretty shady. What’s legitimate and healthy about it? It’s a stretch.”

“That’s your family, isn’t it?”

“Huh? Are you picking a fight?”

“What? You want to fight? I’ll take you on.”

Sei and Tenko suddenly started arguing.

Yugen and Amisa watched them, sipping their tea.

Just as they were about to grab each other, Yugen stopped them.

“Well, whatever. So… I’ve heard that Ryosenji is helping Nageli expand into Kanto. Can you tell me more?”

Yugen forcibly steered the conversation back on track.

Sei answered gruffly.

“Then you should understand. That’s why we have a relationship.”

“So, you’re saying you’re dating?”

“‘That’s not true.’”

They both said in unison.

They frowned, displeased with the timing.

“I wanted to see that movie. But going to the cinema alone would be embarrassing, right? Plus, the couple discount is cheaper. So, I asked Sei-kun on a whim, and he agreed.”

“What do you mean ‘on a whim’? You were the one who said you were scared.”

There seemed to be a slight difference in their perceptions, but they were apparently just friends.

Yugen and Amisa exchanged a look and agreed to stick with that story.

“So, it’s your turn, Yugen.”

In response to Sei’s question, Yugen answered calmly.

“It’s similar for us. Amisa invited me. …Though, I wasn’t provoked.”

“I was scared to go alone, so I invited Yugen-san. …But we’re just friends.”

Amisa also answered in her usual calm voice.

Tenko seemed to accept Yugen and Amisa’s explanation, but Sei didn’t seem entirely convinced.

“Are you really just friends?”

“Is there any reason to doubt it?”

“Yeah… I guess we’ll leave it at that.”

Sei seemed to realize that Yugen was trying to hide something.

She chose not to pry into it as a friend.

“Sorry.”

Yugen apologized.

Since he had already told Soichiro, it might have been fair to tell Sei, who was also a friend, but…

If he could get away with it, he wanted to.

Even if close friends don’t often go to the pool alone together, going to the cinema is quite common…

He wanted to stick with the “friends” story as long as it worked.

“…I don’t like being the center of attention. Can you keep this between us?”

Amisa asked Sei and Tenko.

They both nodded.

“We won’t spread it around.”

“It would help if you didn’t spread our story either.”

Sei and Tenko also asked Yugen and Amisa.

They had become a group sharing secrets.

With this, Yugen and Amisa breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the story wouldn’t spread in school.

Good yakuza and good cult, protecting the town (shaky voice)

If it were a real designated yakuza, Kosegawa would be in trouble for being friends with them.

We’re just a staffing agency.

We also do:

- Private detective work

- Hornet extermination

- Marriage consulting

- Security services

- Boba production

All of which are probably legal. Probably. We’re the ‘Ryosen’ Temple, after all. We can’t be doing anything bad.

Incidentally, Ryosenji’s biggest client is Kosegawa. What kind of work, you ask? Probably security or detective work.

If a burglar breaks into Kosegawa’s house, they’d have to take down the Four Dog Kings and then the Ryosenji. They probably wouldn’t even leave bones.

If you can visualize a dog running around with a bone in its mouth,

please bookmark, rate (change the stars at the bottom of the table of contents to five stars), and you’ll be granted the right to play with the Dead Dog King.

They’ll probably take good care of the bone.

The next update is the day after tomorrow.

Please wait a bit for the next level of affection.

Next time, the date continues.

We’ll go shopping and be all lovey-dovey.