"How unusual, why aren't you in the dance studio today?"
After telling the girls to practice on their own, Hiko went to Ichigo's office.
"I told you, I only go there to relax after finishing my work." Ichigo sat behind his desk, and when he saw Hiko open the door and say that, he really wanted to get up and hit him.
But Ichigo thought that if Hiko had come to see him, it surely meant he had another scheme. So he asked, "You've gotten your wish and started training Ai. Do you have other matters?"
"Can't I come visit you even if I have nothing to do? You're my uncle," Hiko said, putting on an act.
"You little brat, you came here on purpose to annoy me, didn't you? Visit! The only places that need visiting are prisons and hospitals." Hearing Hiko's words, Ichigo's urge to hit him grew stronger. But he reminded himself he was an adult, how could he stoop to a child's level?
'That's a lie! This brat isn't an ordinary child at all! He's even deliberately annoying me!'
Ichigo stood up from his chair and walked toward Hiko. "So, are you cursing me?"
"You're my dear uncle, how could I possibly curse you?" Hiko felt a bad premonition when he saw Ichigo approaching.
'Last time he came close, he ambushed me with a forehead flick.' Hiko placed one hand on the doorknob, adjusting his stance, ready to bolt at any moment.
Seeing Hiko's posture, Ichigo changed tack. He pretended to look for documents, walked to a nearby cabinet, and casually pulled out a file. "Let's get to the point. Don't waste time dawdling."
"Sigh, I just wanted to show a little concern for you. But if you insist I came here with a purpose, then I'll just have to come up with a reason now."
Hiko pretended to think while watching Ichigo carefully out of the corner of his eye, guarding against a sudden sneak attack.
Ichigo saw Hiko standing there deep in thought, so he walked back toward his desk with the file bag in hand.
But after only two steps, he suddenly rolled the file bag into a cylinder, lunged forward, and swung to attack.
The moment Hiko saw him make a move, he twisted the doorknob, opened the door, slipped out, and shut it behind him in one smooth motion, blocking Ichigo from following.
"You little brat, you're quite the actor. I think you should go into movies," Ichigo muttered, watching Hiko's seamless escape.
He had thought Hiko was really lost in thought earlier, but it turned out the brat was just pretending.
His voice was muffled by the closed door.
Hiko caught the faint sound, opened the door a crack, and asked, "What did you say?"
Even if he rushed out now, Ichigo knew he wouldn't be able to catch him. He felt a sense of anticlimax, like a punch landing on empty air. "Never mind, come in. I won't hit you. It's not good to make a fuss in the office."
After saying that, he returned to his seat behind the desk.
"Okay~" Hiko held the doorknob with one hand and his phone in the other, switching it to video mode before pressing record.
Click!
He quickly slipped the camera lens through the doorway, then pulled it back at once.
"This isn't a good look for you." Ichigo, watching from behind his desk, was speechless at Hiko's level of caution.
Hiko noticed the sound wasn't near the door but didn't relax. He replayed the short recording he'd just taken.
The phone hadn't captured Ichigo, but combined with the distance of the voice earlier, Hiko judged he wasn't waiting in ambush. So, he opened the door and walked in with ease.
"If you hadn't tried to hit me just now, I wouldn't be like this," Hiko said in a victim's tone. "Besides, I came here out of good intentions to visit you, and I almost got hit. How can your words be so venomous?"
Ichigo was greatly annoyed, but based on experience, he knew he couldn't win an argument with Hiko. Now, even physical punishment was out of the question.
Bang!
"Get to the point!" Ichigo slammed the table as if in anger. "If you provoke me again, don't blame me for giving you a lesson in place of your parents. I already have their permission!"
"Alright." Hiko's tone grew serious. "Yesterday you said you entrusted someone else to compose music for the Idols. I want to be the one to announce it when the finished product comes out."
"Is that all?"
Ichigo had thought Hiko came with another scheme, but after hearing that, he said, "Yes, but I have a condition."
"You can't take this opportunity to hit me!" Hiko said immediately.
"What kind of person do you take me for?!"
Ichigo felt that Saito Hiko underestimated him. "I'm not a petty man who holds grudges."
It was almost as if he said it on purpose, knowing Hiko had made Arisa cry.
"I won't beat around the bush. You help me handle affairs and make plans," Ichigo stated plainly.
"You want me to handle things again?" Hiko wasn't surprised. "Okay, but only once."
"Deal." Ichigo nodded. "Your plans are always the most reliable. It's just a pity you're still too young…"
'Didn't you gather a group of twelve-year-old girls to be Idols? And you still think I'm too young? I really don't know what you're thinking. Age is not the issue. There's even the example of Gan Luo[1] becoming Prime Minister at twelve.'
Hiko grumbled inwardly but didn't argue. Winning would only mean Ichigo handing him even more work, and he had no desire to become a corporate slave at such a young age.
"Oh, and when the music is finished, let me meet the composer to get acquainted," Hiko said casually.
"I'll ask," Ichigo replied, not agreeing outright.
"Can't you just let me be by your side that day? What's there to ask, I'm just a child."
Hiko worried a formal visit might be rejected, so he immediately came up with a safer approach.
"Aren't you trying to get acquainted with them?" Ichigo had assumed Hiko wanted to learn, but from his reply, that didn't seem to be the case.
"I just want to see what the composer looks like," Hiko said with a curious expression, making his request sound harmless.
"If it's just to take a look, then there's no need for a formal visit," Ichigo agreed without suspicion.
"However-"
"So that means yes?" Hiko cut him off.
Ichigo had intended to say 'However, I'm surprised you're curious about the composer's looks', but was interrupted. So he simply replied, "When he arrives, I'll contact you."
"Then I'll go back. They still need my guidance."
Having achieved his goal, Hiko got up to leave.
"You go. But next time you come, don't talk in such an irritating way."
Ichigo waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.
[1] According to the sources of the Grand Historian, Sima Qian (145-90 BCE), Gan Luo was only 12 years old when he began to serve the kingdom of Qin. Despite his young age, Gan Luo displayed a mind of wisdom and cunning