"Well, well, I've been waiting for you. Could you introduce me to this incredibly beautiful lady right away?"
At Tomomori's words, Haruno smiled and introduced herself.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Yukinoshita Haruno, CEO of Soleil Corporation. I'm here in the capacity of the 'soul sister' to Hachiman-kun and Asuna-chan."
Hearing the neologism "soul sister," Tomomori sounded impressed.
"This is quite the formidable guest… but 'soul sister,' you say? It seems you have a very good relationship with the two of them."
"Indeed. So much so that Asuna-chan officially recognizes me as a member of his harem."
"Hey, Sister, haven't you become a complete idiot lately? I'm honestly starting to get worried."
Hachiman retorted immediately, but Haruno smoothly brushed him off and said:
"Well, as you can see, he's always very concerned about me."
Before Hachiman could retort again, Tomomori spoke with a smile.
"Beautiful, stylish, and quite a unique individual. I'm Yuuki Tomomori, pleased to meet you."
"Yes, pleased to meet you too."
The two shook hands, and Hachiman decided to stop interjecting for now.
"So, Hachiman-kun, what was your impression of Father? Did he say anything to you?"
"He was an extremely stubborn old man. So I called him an old geezer right to his face."
"Hah, calling Father an old geezer, you're quite something."
At Tomomori's comment, Hachiman said, looking a little abashed:
"I apologize. It was a bit disrespectful to your actual father."
Hearing that, Tomomori said cheerfully:
"No, no, I was just impressed by your courage. Don't worry, 'old geezer' is fine."
"Understood. And then, he suddenly lunged at me with a Japanese sword."
"What!? W-what exactly happened?"
Tomomori was clearly not expecting that development and asked Hachiman in a flustered tone.
"First, Shozo-san conveyed our demands. It was about Rect entering a business partnership with a talent agency called Kura Agency. But he wasn't listening at all."
Hearing that, Tomomori sighed, clearly understanding.
"Ah, so it was related to entertainment, huh… You see, as Shozo-san might have told you, our family has long-standing deep connections in that field. For example, when an idol needs to be hospitalized for an unspeakable illness, or when a scandal breaks and they need an emergency admission."
Hachiman heard this and, seeing an opportune moment, asked Tomomori a question.
"Tomomori-san, what are your thoughts on this partnership?"
"Thoughts? What's there to think about? A single partnership isn't going to bring about any major changes, and the demand for the kind of services we've been providing won't disappear. There's absolutely no problem."
"I see…"
(Getting Tomomori to become the chairman is definitely the right move.)
Hachiman thought and continued the conversation.
"I got sidetracked. So, Shozo-san was about to present our conditions, but I felt like he wouldn't accept them anyway — and he wouldn't have, in fact. But just presenting conditions and leaving felt frustrating, so I stopped him. I decided to try sending out some killing intent, imagining cutting that old geezer in half."
"Killing intent!?"
"Yes. And then that old geezer immediately reacted to my killing intent and suddenly attacked with a Japanese sword."
"U-uh, my father apologizes, Hachiman-kun. Were you hurt at all?"
"No problem. I counter-attacked with this for self-defense."
Saying that, Hachiman showed Tomomori his self-defense baton.
"Is that a police baton? And how did you counter-attack?"
"Well… Tomomori-san, could you please pretend that ballpoint pen is a Japanese sword and try to attack me?"
"Hm, alright."
Tomomori, told to do so by Hachiman, raised the ballpoint pen and tried to lunge at Hachiman. At that instant, Tomomori's hand was deflected upwards, and he lost his balance significantly. In that moment, the baton was pressed against Tomomori's throat, and Asuna's hand-chop was also poised at his neck.
"Sorry, did that hurt?"
Ignoring Hachiman's concern, Tomomori said to him in an excited tone:
"Woah… Hachiman-kun, what did you just do? My balance suddenly collapsed. Was that Aikido or something? And Asuna-chan too, when did she… Did you really do that to Father?"
"Yes, it was exactly like this, including Asuna. Incidentally, losing your balance was just the result of a counter-attack."
"Tomomori-san, when Hachiman-kun faces a person, he's good at deflecting all attacks, constantly unbalancing them, and defeating them without letting them do anything."
"Ha, hah, ahahahahahahaha."
Tomomori suddenly burst out laughing. He then asked Hachiman with a mischievous grin:
"Hachiman-kun, was Father scared?"
"Hmm, he was sweating cold, but after that, he seemed surprisingly normal."
"I bet he was absolutely terrified inside."
Tomomori said, sounding very amused. Hachiman then asked him something that had been on his mind.
"By the way, Tomomori-san, did you hear about me in SAO from the patients? That old geezer seemed to know about 'The Flash Asuna' too."
Tomomori's face became serious at Hachiman's question, and he replied:
"So you really were that Hachiman-kun. From the way you put it, Father only knew 'The Flash Asuna,' then? Besides 'The Flash Asuna,' the names that came up from the patients I was overseeing were just 'Black Swordsman,' 'Divine Sword,' and 'Silver Shadow.' I knew about Asuna-chan, so I wondered if it was her, and I asked around at other hospitals too. The names that came up then were 'Heathcliff,' 'Kirito,' and 'Hachiman.' So, 'The Flash Asuna' really was Asuna-chan after all."
"U-uh… Being told that by Uncle is so much more embarrassing than when a stranger says it…"
Tomomori laughed and apologized to a flustered Asuna.
"Haha, sorry, sorry, I won't say it again. Still, Shozo, you could have at least told me. When I asked before, you were completely adamant about not knowing, weren't you?"
Shozo, as if something clicked, said:
"Ah, that's right, I hadn't told Tomomori about this. Actually, at that time, Asuna hadn't been released from SAO yet. Asuna was one of the last hundred. So when you asked before, I didn't have the mental composure to talk about it…"
"What!? I see… So that's why you were so evasive then… I'm sorry for asking something so insensitive. Come to think of it, the culprit was surely from Shozo's company…"
"Ah, that's my sin. Because of that, I nearly lost Asuna. But thanks to this Hachiman-kun, I'm able to hold Asuna in my arms again like this. I can't thank him enough. Moreover, he's going to be my son soon, there's nothing that could make me happier. How about that, Tomomori, aren't you envious?"
Hearing that, Tomomori looked puzzled, then his expression shifted to surprise.
"I am envious, but what!? Then, could it be that the one who solved that incident was…?"
"Yes, it was Hachiman-kun here."
"Well, Tomomori-san, isn't my boyfriend amazing?"
"Ah, ah, yes, he is. I see… I see…"
Tomomori muttered, then with slightly moistened eyes, he firmly grasped Hachiman's hand and said:
"Hachiman-kun, thank you so much for saving Asuna-chan… Thank you…"
"Tomomori-san, helping Asuna is natural for me. I didn't do anything particularly special."
"Natural, you say. I don't think there are many people who can say that. Anyway, thank you, Hachiman-kun, truly, thank you."
Tomomori thanked Hachiman again and again, and Asuna leaned against Hachiman, looking happy.
"We've gotten quite sidetracked. So, ultimately, what is your objective, and why are you so determined to form a partnership with Kura Agency?"
"Actually…"
Hachiman explained the full circumstances to Tomomori in detail. Hearing it, Tomomori's face reddened as he said:
"What is that trash? If I could, I'd annihilate him with my own hands."
"Well, I pretty much agree with that."
"But considering the power you possess, I almost feel it would be simpler to just crush him. However, not doing that is probably your flaw, isn't it? From my perspective, you're too kind."
Hachiman replied, lowering his eyes at those words.
"I'm aware of it…"
"But then again, that's probably your strength too."
Tomomori said with a smile.
"I understand. I promise that once I become chairman, I will cooperate fully, even if it means defying Father."
"Thank you. Do you have any strategies to win the chairman election?"
At Hachiman's question, Tomomori pondered.
"Hmm, the easiest way would be to persuade Sister Kyoko and Kunitomo Yoshikata."
"Are those two the key figures among the so-called neutral faction?"
"Yes, that's right."
Hachiman nodded in understanding and said:
"Regarding Kyoko-san, I have a lead."
"Hm, you know about Sister Kyoko?"
"Yes, she has a sick daughter, doesn't she?"
"Ah, an incurable disease. Honestly, that child probably doesn't have much longer…"
Tomomori said, sounding very pained. Hachiman, with a somber expression, asked Tomomori:
"Is it such a difficult illness?"
"Yes… Honestly, there's nothing that can be done. If only that could be acquired, then at least she could pass peacefully in her final moments…"
Hachiman quietly whispered to Tomomori:
"Um, that's the lead."
Tomomori, hearing Hachiman's words, looked up sharply and asked Hachiman:
"You don't mean… you know about the Medicuboid?"
"More than just knowing, actually."
"Soleil Corporation currently possesses that technology, Tomomori-san. Incidentally, our next president is Hachiman-kun here, so if he says yes, I can provide that technology to the Yuuki-affiliated hospital immediately."
Kyoko's words astonished Tomomori.
"To think you possessed the Medicuboid technology… And Hachiman-kun is the next president? You really are incredible…"
Tomomori muttered, then as if realizing something, he said with a stunned expression:
"Wait, don't tell me, the condition you offered was the Medicuboid? And Father rejected that offer?"
"Yes."
"That damn old geezer, I'm going to punch him next time I see him…"
Tomomori seemed genuinely enraged by this, and after saying so, he pleaded with Hachiman and Haruno:
"Please, meet with Sister Kyoko now. And if possible, please let her daughter, Kaede-chan, use the Medicuboid immediately…"
Receiving his plea, Hachiman asked Haruno:
"Sister, what's the status of the equipment arrangements?"
"Of course, it's already arranged. It should be arriving here soon."
"Really!?"
"Yes, it will be possible to have Kaede-chan use it right away."
At Haruno's words, Tomomori contacted Kyoko. As Kyoko immediately replied that she would meet them, the group quickly set off for the special facility where Kyoko's daughter was hospitalized. Incidentally, Shozo, seeing that things seemed to be progressing, returned to the hotel alone to advance the partnership talks with Kura Agency. Hachiman and the others got into Kit and hurried to their destination. The name of the destination facility was 'Sleeping Forest.'
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