Congratulations, Aika
Hideki and his group were at the back of the VIP section, settled comfortably into the black leather sofas. The enormous glass table in the center was covered in top-shelf bottles and appetizers.
Hideki sat in the middle of the sofa, flanked by three men, all in dark suits.
Two girls from the club kept them company, pouring drinks and making conversation.
The moment we arrived, Bibi clapped his hands.
"Good work, girls. You can go now."
Both strippers gave a small bow.
"Yes, Bibi-san."
"They'll take it from here."
He gestured toward Reiko, Melissa…
And me.
Me too?!
The two girls left, and we took their places.
Everyone started finding their seats.
Ryuji sat across from Hideki.
Matsuda took one end of the table.
Taro stayed standing for a few seconds before settling in as well.
Reiko went straight to Hideki with a professional smile.
"Good evening."
While she refilled his whisky glass, Hideki watched her for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Ryuji…"
He took another sip of his drink.
"You have truly beautiful girls in this club."
Ryuji let out a small laugh.
"I do my best to maintain a good atmosphere."
Hideki turned his gaze back to Reiko.
"Wouldn't you consider working for my family? I'm certain I could offer you…"
"You've got nerve trying to poach Reiko right in front of my face."
Ryuji cut him off with a deep laugh.
Then leaned back and rested an arm over the back of the sofa.
"But that's not going to happen."
Reiko smiled elegantly as she finished pouring.
"I'm very grateful for the offer, Onizuka-sama."
She gave a small bow.
"But I'm very comfortable where I am."
Hideki let out a resigned laugh.
He looked at her for a moment longer, and I could have sworn he flushed slightly — Reiko's beauty was lethal even on big fish.
"What a shame."
He picked up his glass again.
"If you ever change your mind… let me know."
While they negotiated over employees, I was completely rigid.
I'd ended up sitting directly between Bibi…
And boss Ryuji.
I understand why they brought Reiko and Melissa…
But…
What on earth am I doing at a meeting of dangerous people?!
While I tried to make myself invisible, Bibi leaned discretely toward me.
"Why are you so stiff, you idiot?"
I almost jumped out of my seat.
"Huh!"
"Start pouring the drinks."
"Y-yes! Right away!"
I picked up the bottle almost on autopilot.
Calm down… Aika.
I just have to imagine they're normal clients and act like always.
I smiled as naturally as I could and started pouring drinks, doing my best to hide my trembling hands.
Hideki picked up his glass.
Raised it.
And downed the whisky in one shot.
"Agghh…"
He let out the classic grunt of strong alcohol going down.
Then set the glass on the table.
"Alright."
He looked directly at Ryuji.
"Let's get to the point."
He made a small gesture with his hand.
"You called me here to talk about that."
Ryuji nodded.
"I'm not in the mood to waste time either."
He also took a sip before continuing.
"As I told you last time, the Kurogane family…"
His expression became much more serious.
"Keeps expanding."
Every month they control more businesses.
More venues.
More territory.
He paused briefly.
"If you agreed to come today… it's because you've already accepted what that means."
Hideki let out a dry laugh.
He slowly turned the glass in his hand.
"As much as it pains me to admit it…"
He looked up.
"It's reality."
His voice lost its relaxed tone.
"If we don't do something, both your family, the Inugane…"
He paused.
"And mine, the Onizuka…"
He smiled faintly.
"Will end up disappearing."
Disappearing?!
A shiver ran down my spine.
I know absolutely nothing about the yakuza world…
But that sounds bad.
Ryuji crossed his arms.
"Then…"
He held his gaze.
"Do you accept my alliance proposal?"
Hideki held his stare for a few seconds.
Finally he nodded.
"That's right."
Ah…
I felt the tension leave my shoulders a little.
So they just wanted to talk about an alliance…
I feel much calmer between allies than between enemies who hate each other…
Taking advantage of the fact that nobody seemed to be paying attention to me, I picked up an empty glass.
I think just a little won't hurt…
Among all the bottles I chose a sparkling wine.
They say this barely has any alcohol… which is why it's popular with women…
I smiled with satisfaction as I poured myself a small amount.
Hideki spoke again.
"Good, now that that's settled…"
His gaze swept the room.
"Where is the girl?"
The girl?
Who could he be talking about?
Just as I was about to take my first sip…
Ryuji smiled.
"Ah."
He raised a hand.
"She's right here." He said, pointing at me.
Huh?
ME?!
At that exact moment the sparkling wine took the wrong path.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
I nearly spit the entire glass onto the table as everyone in the room turned their heads to look at me.
Hideki studied me for a few seconds.
He narrowed his eyes.
Then looked at Ryuji.
"…Are you pulling my leg?"
"Of course not."
My supposed "uncle" let out a laugh.
Then placed a hand on my shoulder.
"She's my niece."
…
…
…
I slowly turned my head toward him.
With complete calm.
Ryuji met my gaze.
And then he smiled.
He didn't say a word, but I understood perfectly what he was thinking.
It's time for you to return the favor.
Why on earth do you want me to pose as your niece in front of a group of yakuza?!
I really don't like where this is going!!
Hideki looked at me again.
"And why do you have your niece working as a stripper in your club?"
He paused.
"What kind of uncle does that?"
The worst uncle of the year.
Ryuji didn't even blink.
"Ah…"
He smiled proudly.
"It was always her dream."
Hideki frowned.
"Her dream?"
"Huh?"
Her what?
WHAT IS THIS IDIOT TALKING ABOUT?!
Ryuji nodded with complete conviction.
He brought a hand to his chin as if remembering a very tender memory.
"Yes. Even as a little girl she was worse."
He sighed nostalgically.
"She used to come running up to me and say: 'Uncle, Uncle… when I grow up I want to be a prosti—'"
STOMP!
I drove my heel into his foot with full force before he could finish.
Ryuji inhaled sharply through his nose.
The smile didn't disappear, but the vein that appeared on his forehead said something else entirely.
And I looked at him with an expression as radiant as it was terrifying.
"I think that's quite enough joking…"
I tilted my head slightly.
"Uncle Ryuji."
"Y-you're right."
Ryuji let out a forced laugh.
"My apologies."
Hideki kept watching us even more confused, and the other yakuza didn't seem to understand what was happening either.
Only one of them was acting differently.
A guy with long black hair down to his shoulders wasn't taking his eyes off me.
His expression was intense.
Too intense.
Why is he staring at me so much?
So uncomfortable…
Ryuji cleared his throat.
This time the smile disappeared, and his expression changed completely.
"Actually…"
His voice became much more serious.
"Since her father… my older brother… passed away…"
I felt the atmosphere shift.
"…Aika's life has been very difficult."
He paused.
"Danger was always lurking around her, which is why I decided to hide her here."
Then he calmly pointed at Reiko, Melissa, and Bibi.
"And leave her in the care of these three benevolent fairies."
Fairies?
Isn't that the plot of Sleeping Beauty?!
You just made up that whole backstory on the spot, you bastard!!
…
As if he'd been waiting his whole life for this moment…
Bibi stepped forward, placing a hand on his chest.
"It was very hard…"
His voice trembled with emotion.
"When little Aika arrived… she didn't know how to do anything."
He lowered his head.
"We had to teach her everything from scratch…"
"How to walk through this difficult world…"
"How to survive…"
"How to smile even in adversity…"
He wiped away a nonexistent tear.
"…And even how to become an excellent stripper to protect her identity."
THAT LAST PART DID NOT HELP AT ALL!!
Bibi continued, completely absorbed in the role.
"But thank heaven…"
He looked emotionally at Ryuji.
"When the boss became the head of the family, peace finally returned."
"And though Aika was free to leave…"
He pointed at me dramatically.
"She chose to stay… Because this place…"
He brought his hand to his chest again.
"…had become her home."
Silence.
I slowly turned my head.
Reiko was crying.
Melissa too.
Both dabbing at their tears with handkerchiefs.
"Such a moving story…"
"Our little Aika…"
Ryuji lowered his head.
"I know… She's a wonderful girl."
…
I can't believe this.
The four of you should be in the drama club.
I puffed out my cheeks.
Very annoyed.
Then—
Clap!
Ryuji brought his hands together.
Every trace of the dramatic atmosphere vanished as if it had never existed.
"Alright."
He smiled.
"Let's leave the sad stories behind."
He turned toward Hideki.
"As you can see…"
He gestured toward my face.
"My niece isn't only beautiful, she's also a very good girl."
His smile widened even further.
"I'm certain she'll get along wonderfully with your son."
…
His son?
Hideki let out a long sigh.
Then extended his hand toward Ryuji.
"Yes…"
Both men shook hands.
"I hope this engagement brings prosperity to both our families."
…
…
…
Engagement…
My brain slowly processed that word.
One syllable.
Then another.
And another.
E…
En…
Eng…
ENGAGEMENT?!
AN ENGAGEMENT?!
I felt my soul slowly leave my body.
I could almost see it floating a few centimeters above my head.
Everything else happened on autopilot.
They stood.
Exchanged a few words.
Said their goodbyes.
The Onizuka family left the VIP room, and I stayed completely frozen, not reacting until Ryuji walked back in.
When my soul slammed back into my body, I slammed both hands on the table.
"I need an explanation right now!!"
I pointed at him with a trembling finger.
"What engagement?!!"
Ryuji simply smiled with that same calm of his.
"Congratulations, Aika."
He paused.
"I'm sure you'll look beautiful in a wedding dress."