At the Yotsuba main estate, the quiet ritual of afternoon tea was underway. As Hayama poured the tea, a discreet electronic chime signaled an incoming call from within his vest. With a graceful nod of permission from Maya, the head butler withdrew a classic, folding voice-only terminal and pressed it to his ear.
"Aoki? ...I see. So, you've bungled your assignment. ...It remains a fact that you failed to fulfill the Mistress's request. Though, given the circumstances, I suppose it couldn't be helped. ...There is no need for such panic. Master Tatsuya is not a man to go back on his word over a matter like this. ...Understood. I shall relay the details to the Mistress myself. ...Yes, see that you do better next time."
"And what did Mr. Aoki have to say?" Maya asked as Hayama tucked the terminal away.
Hayama bowed his head, his expression a mask of professional chagrin. "My deepest apologies, Mistress. It appears he has failed to secure the 3H unit."
Aoki was the one who had failed, but as the chief butler and Aoki's superior, Hayama wore the shame of the blunder as his own. Maya, however, offered neither forgiveness nor condemnation. Her interest had already drifted elsewhere.
"I believe I heard Tatsuya's name mentioned?"
This was where Maya's true curiosity lay. A failed errand by a subordinate was a trifle; the movements of her nephew were far more captivating.
Hayama allowed a faint, knowing smile to touch his lips. "It appears Master Tatsuya purchased the 3H unit in question. He seems to have maneuvered quite skillfully to ensure the doll wouldn't fall into outside hands. He bought the title of ownership while ensuring the lease agreement with First High remained legally binding."
It was the exact same contingency Maya had planned to implement if they couldn't acquire the unit outright.
"I wonder... did he do it by design? Or was it merely a coincidence?" Maya mused, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"That, I cannot say, My Lady."
"...Very well. If Tatsuya is taking responsibility for its management, I have no objections."
"Aoki seems intent on securing a contract to buy the 3H from him, should Master Tatsuya ever decide to part with it," Hayama added.
"Yes, that will suffice."
Hayama gave a small, respectful bow. He knew Maya had never truly intended to punish Aoki—or himself—but he showed his gratitude for her leniency nonetheless.
"Still... I really would like to get my hands on a sample," Maya murmured, her voice trailing off.
"Mistress, if I may be so bold... perhaps it would be wise to avoid becoming too involved with things that are... not entirely human."
At Hayama's gentle caution, Maya's ageless beauty was momentarily clouded by a flash of irony. "Because 'those gentlemen' wouldn't approve?"
"Precisely."
"They are our most important sponsors, after all," she said, a mischievous, almost wicked smile playing on her lips. Hayama responded with a faint, disciplined frown.
"I understand your concerns, Hayama. I'm not looking to stir up trouble for the sake of it. But I believe acquiring a 'Parasite' is a necessity for the Yotsuba."
"Then you believe that by studying these creatures, we might approach the ultimate secrets of mental interference?"
"Exactly. 'What is the mind?' That is the riddle the Yotsuba have chased since our beginning. They say the Parasite's true form is an independent informational body of the spirit. Its material, its structure, its location... it might provide the clues we need to finally map the nature of consciousness itself."
Understanding her vision, Hayama bowed deeply. Maya nodded grandly, steering the conversation back to the present.
"By the way, what news of our 'monsters' and their movements?"
"According to the report from Lord Kuroba, the creature that was disposed of late last night has already achieved resurrection."
"Already? That was remarkably fast."
"They must be in a hurry. Lord Kuroba noted that the creatures seem to be preparing for war."
"I see... and I suppose I don't even have to ask who their target is." Maya's face held the trace of a suppressed laugh.
"In their way of thinking, they cannot simply abandon a comrade imprisoned within a doll."
"At this point," Maya sighed, "I'm beginning to think it's not that Tatsuya is 'loved by trouble,' but rather that he has a genuine passion for it."
There was no doubt who she was referring to. Her nephew would have vehemently denied the accusation, but no one in the room was about to argue with her.
"Do we know when they will strike?"
"Lord Kuroba predicts it will be tomorrow night, in the vicinity of First High."
"The 'vicinity'... Mitsugu always was one for cautious phrasing. Very well. Tell Mitsugu to station our people there. As for the leader... let's go with Ayako-chan. Our goal isn't to join the fray, after all."
"As you wish."
Hayama clapped his hands, summoning a maid to take over the tea service while he headed to the communications room. The girl who entered to replace him was a young maid, a year junior to Miyuki.
"Minami-chan," Maya said, watching the girl work. "What do you think of the feelings of the girl who... 'awakened' the Parasite in question?"
Minami Sakurai paused for a moment. "I think it is only natural, given it is Master Tatsuya. However, even for one of the 'Elements' lineages, she seems a bit... excessively dependent on him."
"Quite right. We want the blood of the Elements, but for Miyuki-san to truly succeed as the head of the Yotsuba, Tatsuya is absolutely indispensable."
Miyuki was still only a candidate for the succession, but in Maya's heart, the decision was already made. Only a handful of people knew this; Minami was one of them.
"If Lady Miyuki is amenable to it," Minami said, her voice quiet and steady, "perhaps we should simply keep such girls close as Master Tatsuya's mistresses?"
Maya blinked, a surprised laugh escaping her. "Mistresses? Minami-chan, you say the most scandalous things for someone so young."
"And yet, I believe it aligns perfectly with your own thoughts, My Lady."
"I suppose it does," Maya admitted, her gaze softening with a rare touch of genuine melancholy. "I lost my own 'happiness as a woman' when I was fourteen. I'd like to see these young girls find some measure of joy. Especially the ones who have fallen for Tatsuya."
"But if that is the case," Minami asked, her tone taking on a subtly sharper edge, "just how many lovers is Master Tatsuya going to end up with?"
Maya took a slow sip of her tea, a wry smile on her face. "You have a point. It seems even the young lady of the Saegusa family is quite smitten with him."
"The Saegusa family...?"
"Oh yes. My relationship with Koichi-san may be deteriorating, but Tatsuya and his daughter seem to be on excellent terms."
"Is that so..."
Minami's expression clouded with a flicker of what looked like cold disapproval. Maya watched her with the knowing eyes of a mother—or perhaps a predator—observing the hidden depths of the girl's heart.
Note: Minami showing a bit more of a "dark" side than expected...
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