Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Private Interests (3)
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Elementary school girls are invincible.
No matter what mischief they get into, they're forgiven. No matter what trouble they cause, it all gets brushed off with "She's just a kid."
Even my relatively alert parents seemed baffled by what I'd pulled off today.
"You get it, right, Serika? I know you want to help people, but you can't just bring anyone home like that. What if you talk to someone suspicious who collapses on the street? The world's full of missing persons and kidnappings these days. You need to be more careful."
The shower ran in the bathroom, and her wet clothes spun in the washing machine. I'd changed into casual clothes and was getting an earful from Mother. Her face was still full of disbelief.
"It's not like you brought home a pet dog or something... you brought a full-grown college girl... Oh, honey, welcome home."
Father cut the lecture short. His neatly trimmed mustache perched on his round face, and he wore a benevolent smile like something out of a painting as he stepped through the front door.
"I'm home, dear."
Father ran a small company as a businessman. He glanced around with a smile but quickly picked up on the awkward vibe in the house. He shook his head and spoke.
"What's going on, dear? Why are you scolding her like that?"
"You won't believe this. Our Serika just picked up some poor soul off the street and brought her home."
Father tilted his head at Mother's frown, then burst into hearty laughter.
"Huh? Oh! Haha! Kids do that sometimes. When I was little, I'd bring home stray kittens and puppies because they looked pitiful. Everyone grows up going through that phase. Come on, Serika. What'd you bring home this time?"
He leaned down in front of me as he said it. His pleased grin suggested he hadn't grasped the situation yet. Mother stopped mid-sentence at the sight, her face twisting in exasperation.
"...A college girl."
"...Huh?"
Father's face showed he still didn't get it.
"A college girl? What's that, some kind of creature?"
He muttered like it was truly baffling, then looked back at me. He knew what a college girl was; he just couldn't process the word in this context.
I had nothing clever to say, so I just nodded and replied.
"...A college student big sister."
"...?"
Father's face remained blank.
The shower noise had faded by then. Sally, now in clean clothes, peeked out from the bathroom. Father, Mother, and I all turned toward the bath.
Sally, in light training wear, flinched under the sudden stares and spoke up.
"Um, th-thank you for letting me use the bathroom."
Father silently looked at Mother. She nodded and said.
"A college girl, like I said."
********
The cause of the recent Jericho Tower collapse has been identified as inadequate inspection and malfunction of the power device. All team members responsible for its development and maintenance have been dismissed, and a civil lawsuit is being prepared against the team leader.
A man in a suit was being interviewed on TV. Flashes popped from reporters as he clearly outlined responsibility for the Jericho Tower collapse.
[Epsilon Corp takes full responsibility for this incident...]
The TV clicked off. Father stared seriously at Sally, while Mother glanced awkwardly and slipped into the kitchen. I sat in the corner of the sofa, doing my homework. Father stroked his chin and spoke.
"So, you're part of the Jericho Tower development team that got fired over the accident, and on top of that, they didn't even pay you properly, leaving you penniless?"
Sally nodded with a sniffle. Her red hair and training wear hid it, but she was quite the beauty underneath.
Probably because she was one of the key characters in the original story.
"Yes... B-but what they're saying is all a frame-up. Our team did everything right. The specs were normal, the test run was fine, and then suddenly it's our fault..."
Sally couldn't hold back her injustice and started tearing up again. Father looked sympathetic.
She had every right to be upset. The Jericho Tower explosion was indeed a frame-up. In the original story, this injustice kicked off a chain of misfortunes that sent Sally spiraling, filling her with hatred for society.
"And you have nowhere to go right now?"
But here, Sally hit another turning point. My father was a successful businessman with a generous streak. He'd laugh off a stray cat I brought home, and he'd seriously hear out even a college girl I dragged in.
"...Yes."
As Sally nodded, Father continued.
"But landing a job at a big corp like Epsilon means you're pretty handy with machines, right?"
Sally straightened up like she was in an interview. Her long job-hunting experience showed— she wiped her tears roughly and put some strength in her voice.
"Yes. I majored in power systems research... I can handle maintenance on basic equipment."
"Then, Sally. Since you have no place to stay for a bit, how about a spot on our company's maintenance team? You did research, so you can learn the job gradually. We have a women's dorm at the office building— you can take a room there."
"Y-yes?"
Sally had been acting interview-ready, but she clearly hadn't expected an actual offer. Her eyes went wide as she responded, prompting Father to say.
"You said you have nowhere to go, and our daughter brought you here— feels like fate. You've got talent at a young age. Can't have you wandering like this. Sleep upstairs tonight, and tomorrow I'll advance you some pay. Get some clothes and head straight to the office."
Sally looked dumbfounded. But Father smiled contentedly. That's the kind of guy he was.
Wasn't this good for everyone?
Sally, whose life nearly shattered from the tower explosion, got her job back.
The future villain who would've targeted the protagonists was one fewer.
And I made money.
The only losers were the bad guys, and I could keep living my quiet life.
Seeing Sally still dazed and Father chuckling heartily, I smiled contentedly too.
"Serika, no more bringing random people home from outside, got it?"
"...Yes."
Though I probably couldn't pull this off twice.
*********
Figures shrouded in black gathered around a table lit by faint light in the darkness. Each had a distinctive silhouette, all facing the massive monitor at the front.
"Briefing."
The man in the fur coat at the lead waved his hand, and the monitor began a dry, mechanical briefing.
The Jericho Tower bombing was successfully completed. However, evidence of interference by an unknown party during the operation requires review of future proceedings.
The fur-coated man tilted his head and said.
"Interference? Be more specific."
The monitor screen shifted, displaying a company logo.
A flower-shaped emblem mismatched with the name Iwamoto Industry.
The monitor continued.
A stock account in the name of 'Iwamoto Serika,' daughter of Iwamoto Industry's CEO, shows investments betting on Epsilon Corp's stock plunge right before the Jericho Tower bombing. Profits from the investment...
A number appeared on the screen. One organization member whistled in admiration, but the fur-coated man looked unimpressed.
"Just lucky timing? Maybe their daughter’s a gambling addict who hit the jackpot."
Iwamoto Serika is currently enrolled in elementary school.
The fur-coated man shut his mouth. Leveraging into a full bet on Epsilon's soaring stock crashing wasn't something an elementary kid— or even a normal person— could pull off.
He shook his head.
"Any other signs? That's not enough to suspect."
Subsequently, Iwamoto Industry's president recruited 'Sally,' our target for this operation, to his company. Considering the stock investment and this talent acquisition, Iwamoto Industry's president appears aware of our operation and shares similar objectives.
Iwamoto Industry's president's face appeared on the screen.
A round face with a friendly smile and mustache.
The fur-coated man said gravely.
"...I know guys like that. Looks ordinary, but he's terrifying. You can see the killer instinct in his eyes. A real mastermind."
Another member asked.
"So, what're we doing?"
"Iwamoto Industry's a big player in the area. He knew our plan but didn't stop it— used his daughter as a shield to make bank, quietly snagged our talent. Mastermind move. Maybe all this is him sending us a message, waiting for contact. Better to recruit him than eliminate."
Everyone nodded.
And while this conspiracy unfolded, Iwamoto Industry's president...
went obliviously to work as usual.