Volume 2 - CH 1.10

Part 10

The arrival of the ambulance and patrol car caused a fuss in Amaburi.

After being questioned by the investigating officer and others, the matter was finally settled and they left the park around 8, long after the park’s closing hours.

“How did that escalate so quickly…” Seiya muttered to himself as he cleaned the blood stains with a mop.

“We were supposed to carry out a normal interview and go home… How did we end up with an AV actress and get caught up in a stabbing incident at the same time…?”

“Seriously, fumo… We even had the victim as our applicant…” Moffle commented as he wiped the walls with some Quickle sheets.

“That damned cop. Almost charged me for attempted murder. It’s self-defense, I tell you. Self-defense, fumo!”

“Any normal person could tell that snapping someone’s jaw is overkill, even in the name of self-defense… But you’re right, looks like he’s really gonna have to live on a liquid diet for a while.”

“Hmph. Maybe I was a little excessive, fumo.”

“You were just too overpowered. Go and reflect on your actions, for god’s sake.”

“Mofu…”

The investigating officer had confirmed that the weird man was indeed Biino’s brother. He was definitely not right in the head for him to be interfering with his sister’s matters to such an extent. Apparently this wasn’t the first time he’d done such things, and it had finally come to this.

It certainly wasn’t something to laugh about, yet this incident could be said to be rather amusing.

“What’s gonna happen to Biino-san, fumo?”

“God knows. I definitely don’t wanna get involved with her ever again.”

“Mofu. But she was really interested in working here, you know?”

“Wait, what…? You seriously want to hire her?”

“I didn’t say nothin’, fumo.” Moffle looked away and went back to cleaning the wall.

“… Sento, what do you think of her?” Seiya turned to ask Isuzu, who had just came back with a bucket of water.

“You mean whether or not we should hire her?”

Her “mm!!” reflex was starting to wear off, but Isuzu remained careful when picking her words. She’d occasionally still cover her mouth with her hand.

Nonetheless, her strange manner of talking lingered enough to make the conversation with the investigating officer extremely awkward. No doubt it must have been difficult for him to take any of her explanations seriously…

“Yeah. You’re in charge of the selection after all, so I’d like to hear your opinion.”

“Let’s see…” Isuzu considered for a moment. “…Logically speaking it’d be a no. But she has a knack for dealing with bizarre situations that tend to occur often onstage. I mean, she was even able to keep up a smile despite being stabbed by her brother. She has the passion as well, so she’d make an excellent cast member with ample training.”

“Hmph…” She actually gave a sensible response for once. It was during times like this where her analytical judgment came in handy.

“Besides, I’m sure she’ll be a perfect partner for you given her excellent—!”

Hearing that, Seiya and Moffle shrugged.

“…Looks like some of the fruit’s effects are still here. If possible, try not to talk to me…”

“Fruit…?”

Hearing that, Moffle hammered a fist on his palm and nodded. “Ah, that figures, fumo. So they made you eat a heartsleeve fruit, and that’s why you slaughtered them?”

“Yes…”

“Well, I’m sure they didn’t mean it, fumo. Please forgive them.”

“No, they definitely did it with ill intentions. I’ll never forgive those two.”

I don’t know what this thing is about, but it sounds like Isuzu’s strange behavior is related to this fruit thing.

“What’s up with that? So you’re saying your mumbling at the end of your sentences are also a result of the fruit?”

Moffle and Isuzu averted their gazes as if trying to avoid the question.

“W-Well, I won’t put it that way, fumo.”

“It’s just something like mixing juice with alcohol. Don’t worry about it…”

These two had absolutely no intention of explaining the situation. Realizing that any further questioning would be pointless, Seiya went back to the topic.

“Okay, whatever. That’s enough for Bandou Biino. What about Eiko-san? What do you guys think?”

“Why did you attach a -san to her name?”

“Tch…”

“At any rate, I don’t think there’s a need to worry about her past experiences hurting our image. The demographic for her previous job is completely different from ours. Also, her personality is one that will definitely bring a smile to any guest’s face. She’s sure to be a fine front-liner.”

“Seconded, fumo.”

“However,” Isuzu continued, “That doesn’t mean there’s no risk involved. Adachi Eiko’s past job could potentially cause some friction in the park. It’s also clear that Bandou Biino does not come from a very well-off environment. Her working here might invite some trouble.”

Hearing that, Moffle and Seiya nodded in admiration.

“…What’s that supposed to mean?” questioned Isuzu.

“Ah, nothing. Never knew you could reason so well.”

“I don’t get it, fumo. If you had such a good eye for people, why don’t you channel it into your socializing skills and stop pointing your musket at people?”

“Yeah! You were like that when you first came over and ‘invited’ me for a ‘date’!”

Hearing those remarks thrown at her, Isuzu’s glare became demonic. She appeared to be on the brink of drawing the musket out from her skirt. “If you’re gonna screw with me any longer, I’ll consider you my enemy…”

“There, you see? That’s precisely the problem!”

“Violent women aren’t trendy these days, fumo!”

Seiya and Moffle retorted as they began to seek shelter behind the tables.

“Tch…”

Having been told that much, she couldn’t bring herself to carry on. Isuzu gave up the thought of shooting the two of them.

“…My, my. Anyway good work today, fumo. I’m gonna check on my sweet house and head back. Drop me a mail if there are any plans to hold another interview tomorrow.”

The commotion brought about by Biino had resulted in the interviews being cancelled midway. As such, they had postponed the appointments of the remaining applicants until a later date.

With Moffle having left the room, only Seiya and Isuzu remained. They continued cleaning the place in silence.

About 2 minutes later, someone stepped into the room.

“Uh…Erm—…”

“?”

“Is this the venue for the job interview?”

The girl who just entered looked like an elementary school student. Her twin tails and big eyes matched her clothing, and it wouldn’t be weird to see her carrying a school bag.

“You are…?”

“Chuujou Shiina. I applied for a job here, sorry for being late,” She said in a timid voice.

“Something came up, so we postponed the interview. But either way we’re not hiring you.”

“E-Eh!? Why?”

“Because of labor laws. We can’t hire elementary school kids.”

“Huh, but I’m…”

“The exit’s the other way. Thanks for your interest.”

After getting shunned by Seiya, Chuujou Shiina walked out disheartened.

“It… didn’t happen that way in my dream. Just what’s been going on recently…?” Isuzu muttered to herself.

“What the hell was that… In the first place, why is an elementary school student coming for the interviews? Weren’t you the one who shortlisted the candidates?”

“The shortlisting…of candidates?” An imaginary light bulb lit above Isuzu’s head. “That’s it! That dream must have been due to my reading of the various application forms, resulting in such a weird…mm—!”

“Not again…”

“Ugh…I’m sorry.” Isuzu muttered while panting.

“But I’m certain there were no mistakes. That girl is a high schooler. She may not look like it but in fact she’s a first year student in Amagi High.”

“What? Shit…” Seiya ran out of the door and examined the hallway. There was no sign of her.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier!?”

“I wanted to, but my thoughts got the better of me.”

“Damn. Looks like we’re gonna have to send an official letter of apology for the miscommunication, huh.”

“Though seeing your attitude towards her, I doubt she’ll want to work here anymore.”

“It doesn’t matter. That’s a different thing altogether.”

Isuzu’s expression blanked out at Seiya’s earnest response. “I see…”

The room-cleaning ended soon after. The two of them returned the cleaning tools and went back to their own office.

After grabbing their belongings, Isuzu said, “Kanie-kun.”

“Hm?”

“I’m well aware of your concerns…”

Seiya did not understand her random topic of conversation. “Concerns? What concerns?”

“Both you and Moffle were talking about my social skills back there.”

“Oh, that.”

As they paced through the empty hallway, Isuzu continued, “I don’t really understand it myself. I’m able to stay perfectly calm when I’m just observing people, but I falter once I have to take part. And that has resulted in many blunders on my part, some of which I don’t think I’ll ever be able to atone for…”

Seiya recalled hearing that Isuzu had served as the acting manager before he did. She put a lot of effort into her job but ended up driving the park into a corner.

It was until about 2 weeks before the deadline when Isuzu had run out of options. Then, Seiya came to the rescue and created a ‘miracle’. The comparison was one-sided; the current manager who saved the whole theme park against the former manager whose contributions could not even be seen. Furthermore, she was currently serving as his secretary. Seiya came to realize that this must have placed her in quite a tough and demoralizing position.

Unfortunately, Seiya could no longer use his magic powers on Isuzu.

“Assessing someone’s traits and actually communicating with them are two completely different things. Don’t let that get to you.”

It wasn’t a completely alien concept to grasp. It was the equivalent of saying how the skills needed to be a pitcher and a batter were completely different.

Yet, Isuzu remained silent for a brief period before smiling a little. She was like a teary child who had found her mother. Seiya had never seen her with such an expression before.

“Kanie-kun, you’re a cruel one,” said Isuzu. “I’ve always thought that I’d be able to accept the difference in our capabilities and move on, but you never cease to amaze me. I really envy you, Kanie-kun, and that’s why I cannot hide my feelings for yo—!!”

What? Is her “mm” rubbish still going?

“Hey, pull yourself together!” Seiya said as he watched Isuzu smack her head against the windows of the hallway.

“The fruit’s effect has yet to wear off…”

There was no way Seiya could have maintained a straight face after hearing her thoughts.

Nonetheless, he now understood that even people like Isuzu had her own internal conflicts.

Then again, it’s understandable for people to doubt themselves when facing such an OP dude like me.

“Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who envies my talent. I’m not bothered by it one bit.”

“Kanie-kun…you need to get off your high horse. Those condescending eyes of yours would churn anybody’s stomach,” Isuzu said with a grimace.

“But I can’t help it. I am superior, after all.”

“May Goddess Libra smite this infidel…” Isuzu said with a sigh, as she adjusted the strap of her bag.