Chapter 618．FOOL FOR A LOVE
For now, we’re done preparing.
It’s faster than usual today.
Well, it’s Saturday, the amount we made is less than weekdays.
「 It’s all okay now. Then, I’ll go back ho 」
Katsuko-nee takes off her white coat after she finished checking my work.
After the fourth hour is over, I leave the sales to gu and Nei.
I do the clean-up, tallying sales, and writing on the ledger.
Once gu’s done with her practice, the pickup car will co, and I’ll close the bakery and go ho.
That’s roughly the sa every day.
「 Here’s the yesterday sales, then here’s the money for change 」
It’s at this ti when Katsuko-nee collects the proceeds from the day before.
She drops by the bank on the way back to the mansion and deposits it.
She also leaves change money at that ti.
Also, Katsuko-nee has a lot of work to do during the dayti, such as ordering raw materials, preparing bags, and so on.
「 Then, take care of the rest, Dear 」
Katsuko-nee tells , then she looked at Yukino.
「 Yukino-san, what’s your plan? If you want, I can send you over 」
gu’s coming here once the fourth lesson ends to sell bread.
Katsuko-nee thought that Yukino doesn’t want to et her.
「 No thanks. Soone from Kouzuki SS will co to pick up like usual 」
Yukino smiles wryly.
「 Well, I’m under surveillance. I don’t have the intention of committing suicide this late though 」
Yukino feels that the bodyguards from Kouzuki SS following her aren’t for security but for surveillance.
「 I feel like I’m free when I’m in school. Although this is the school, so I know you’re watching 」
Yukino said.
「 Once the chi for the end of fourth-hour rings, I’ll go sowhere else before gumi could co. So, leave alone 」
「 I see. If that’s the case I don’t mind, but 」
Katsuko-nee says bluntly.
But.
「 No, Yukino, stay here until the people from Kouzuki SS cos 」
I said.
「 What? No way 」
Yukino rejects.
「 I said it earlier, Endou might be planning sothing 」
「 Kenji? I’ll be fine. That guy can’t do anything alone 」
Well, that’s true, but.
「 But, what if he’s not alone? 」
I have to think of that possibility.
「 That guy can’t get help from anyone this late. Kenji got no backing from anyone anymore 」
Endou’s uncle lost his position as a city councilor. His father’s company went bankrupt, and they ran away.
Endou has no power backing him up.
「 Even if his backing disappears, so other people may try to use him, right? 」
「 Like Iwakura-san? 」
Yukino glares at .
「 She’s your underling, right? 」
Yukino’s deceived by Iwakura-san too.
She was made to swallow marble chocolate, tricking her that it was a contraceptive.
「 Not really, she’s Minaho-neesan’s loose pet 」
I can only say it like that.
「 Iwakura-san being behind Enodu is just my intuition, only one of the possibilities. It’s possible that there are other elents involved. Anyway, soone might be using Endou’s hatred of to attack Kuromori 」
「 That has nothing to do with , right? 」
Yukino looks at with a displeased face.
「 Yeah, you may not be, but, you don’t want to get caught in between, right? 」
「 Why ? 」
「 That child in your stomach is mine. If anything happens to your body, I’d feel sad 」
Yukino thinks for a mont.
「 Right, don’t want that to happen 」
「 Right? So stay with us until Kouzuki SS picks you up 」
I said.
「 If the enemy takes so action, I think they’ll co when there are still a lot of students in the school 」
Like taking us down while the crowd is watching.
They can hold a lot of hostages.
That would restrict our movents.
「 Tomorrow is Sunday so if they’re about to move, it would be after-school. 」
I feel like they’ll start before the defense system is turned on.
「 If that’s the case, why can’t they just do it while in the middle of classes, while all of the students are in school? 」
Yukino asked.
It’s Sunday, so once the fourth class is over, the students without club activities will go ho in haste.
「 Well, that’s true, but if the enemy were Iwakura-san, she’d wait until after-shool 」
「 Why? 」
「 Well, you see, Iwakura-san’s the student council president 」
「 What about it? 」
「 The student council president herself won’t do anything like interfering with the class 」
「 Is that so? She picked up while in class back then 」
「 Back then, it was under Minaho-neesan’s order. But if Iwakura-san crushes down the classes with her own ideas and she kept it a secret to Minaho-neesan, Minaho-neesan will get angry that it’ll be harsh for her later 」
「 Either way, once exposed, Yuzuki will get angry at her, right? 」
「 Well yeah, but Iwakura-san’s the type who wants Minaho-neesan to look after her so she won’t do anything that would make Minaho-neesan abandon her. She only wants to do sothing that would get Minaho-neesan angry. She won’t do anything beyond that line 」
That’s what I think.
「 In the first place, it was Minaho-neesan who made Iwakura-san the student council president. Therefore, she won’t do anything that would cause inconvenience to the students, I think 」
The target is only , or my family alone.
Iwakura-san will wait for after-school.
「 I an, I think she’ll refrain from attacking until I’m done with my bread project, which was spearheaded by Minaho-neesan. In short, sothing’s coming up once we’re done selling bread 」
I think that’s a strong possibility.
「 In that case, shouldn’t I get away from you? 」
Yukino grins.
「 I’d rather not be with soone I know will get attacked 」
I.
「 If you’re confident that you can protect yourself alone, sure 」
I said
「 I have Edie with . Nei is a tactics advisor too. Also, Nikita will be with us for a while
Our defense is enough.
「 Hah! You seem to be good at coaxing, must be Yuzuki’s influence 」
Yukino looks at .
「 Got it. If you’re going that far to say that, then I’ll stay here even if I don’t want to! 」
Yukino sits back on the chair.
「 I really don’t want to, okay?! 」
Hmm.
For now, it helps that Yukino’s sowhere I could reach.
If she gets away from us and gets kidnapped by the enemy, it would be a serious matter.
We kidnapped Shirasaka Sousuke and used him as hostage towards Shirasaka house effectively, we know how fearful that is.
「 It really as Yukino-san says. You’ve beco strong 」
Katsuko-nee looks at and said.
「 Yeah. I’ll leave this case to you. I’ll be going by now 」
Saying that she holds her bag and stands up.
Then.
「 Hey wait, are you just leaving? 」
Yukino tells Katsuko-nee.
「 Stay over here too 」
Katsuko-nee.
「 I leave everything to him when it cos to school. I only give him support, but I don’t help out. That’s what I decided on 」
「 Hmm, that’s an excuse, you’re an idiot 」
Yukino and Katsuko-nee glare at each other.
「 Well, Yukino-san’s an outsider so you wouldn’t know 」
「 Yes, I don’t know, I don’t care either, but I just want to make it a bit fair for him 」
Yukino?
「 I know how dirty of a woman you are ever since May. You’re quite cunning. Aren’t you feeling quite better just because he’s an idiot? 」
「 What do you want to say? 」
Katsuko-nee glares at Yukino.
「 Look, I was listening to you two while you were making bread earlier. Aren’t you just substituting a lot of misplaced logic? 」
「 No, that’s not true, Yukino 」
I get in between the two.
「 You really are an idiot. Getting fooled from just that 」
「 I don’t have that intention however 」
Katsuko-nee said.
「 So what? Could it be that you’re waiting for him to see through the contradiction? 」
Yukino laughs.
「 If that’s the case then you’re expecting too much from him. You’re a much more harsh woman than I thought. This guy’s stupidity is endless. When you have so thoughts, he won’t understand it unless you tell him clearly. His brain is smaller than a cricket’s! 」
Yukino, what did you notice?
Is there sothing I didn’t realize here?
「 Leave us alone. It’s our problem 」
Katsuko-nee said calmly.
「 I can’t allow that, his existence is my lifeline here 」
Yukino?
「 Yuzuki only allows to live for his sake, right? I know that 」
Yukino looks at .
「 After the show was over last night, I felt thankful to Yuzuki for the first ti. I announced that I was pregnant last night. Yuzuki told to do that 」
Minaho-neesan did?
She ordered Yukino to announce it.
「 Well, I thought that it’s the usual orders to hurt , but when I did it, I was wrong. When I announced on television that I was pregnant with the child of the man who raped , and I can no longer abort, that the only path for was to give birth, the people’s view of has surely changed 」
Yukino said.
「 I was no longer the insensitive daughter of a sex criminal, the world now sees as a victim of sex cri. The attitude of the staff has changed completely. They’re all kind to now 」
Yukino snorts.
「 I thought that I would be humiliated in front of the television, but Yuzuki’s shown a way to survive. I’ve resolved myself and will work hard. I don’t think that Yuzuki or Kouzuki SS will continue their protection all the ti 」
It won’t continue all the ti, huh?
「 Once that old man from Kouzuki house dies, their regi will change, I can’t tell whether you people would let live for long while fooling all the people 」
Right, Jii-chan’s old.
Kouzuki house will not always protect us.
If Jii-chan, the center of Kouzuki dies before Misuzu becos an adult.
Shiba-san, the new head of Kouzuki group may rebel against Misuzu.
No, it’s possible that Shiba-san is overthrown by a coup from the branch family.
If so strange guy gains control of Kouzuki group.
Misuzu, Ruriko, and Yoshiko-san may be forced to get married.
Kouzuki SS may turn to our enemies.
Chief Yazawa, Shou-neechan, and Rei-chan might be suddenly dismissed.
「 I know that I’m given a chance until next year when I give birth. Until then, all I can do is do my best as a TV personality, so the public recognizes 」
Yukino.
「 Right now, the only way for to live is just an imaginary work 」
The public knows Yukino.
Her father’s cri, Yukino’s experience, her abuse.
「 Seriously, after yesterday’s broadcast was over, I finally understood. Yuzuki didn’t have show up on TV because she hates . She’s been thinking on her own way on how I could continue to survive. Therefore, this 」
Yukino looks down.
「 Of course. Minaho-neesan is Yukino’s horoom teacher. She’s worried about Yukino’s future 」
「 Well, I thank her. A bit. She’s being considerate of 」
Then, Yukino looks at .
「 So, do you get it? 」
Huh?
「 What is Yuzuki considering for you? 」
Well.
「 No, but, Minaho-neesan made this bakery for , even made the “bread-making course” 」
「 That’s not what I’m talking about 」
Yukino?
「 It’s almost a month since you started making bread here and selling it to the students, right? It’s about ti you should notice it 」
What?
「 See? He’s really an idiot. What you said earlier didn’t make any sense for him. You need to be clear with him! 」
Yukino looks at Katsuko-nee.
「 He’s doing well. He’s working hard 」
Katsuko-nee?
「 I know that already! But that’s not enough you know?! Seriously 」
Yukino shows a displeased face.
「 Sorry, I really don’t get what you’re talking about Yukino. Could you please tell ? 」
Yukino sighs loudly.
「 Sure. Do you mind? 」
She asks Katsuko-nee.
「 Wait, give him a bit more ti 」
「 Nothing will happen if I do, he’s a genuine idiot, you know 」
Yukino glares a ti.
「 Okay, for now, you’ve been making bread and selling it for almost a month, right? 」
「 Huh? Yeah, what about it? 」
「 So, do you think it’s still okay? 」
Huh?
「 Yes, of course 」
「 Why? 」
Yukino’s displeased eyes look at .
「 Well, Katsuko-nee’s much more familiar in making bread than , she also has experience in doing it for so long 」
「 That’s obvious. There’s no one as stupid as you in this world so don’t use your low-IQ self as the basis 」
Yukino, what do you want to say?
「 This woman only knows how to bake bread for so many years in that mansion. Although I can say, they taste good. I did eat the bread this woman made before 」
Yukino sighed.
「 But, that and selling bread are two different things, aren’t they? 」
Huh?
「 This woman has never experienced selling her bread, hasn’t she? I an, she doesn’t have any experience in the business itself, right? 」
That’s.
「 Yes. I was a prostitute, but I let Ojou-sama take care of all the business side 」
Katsuko-nee mutters.
I see. Even when she sells her body, it’s Minaho-neesan who makes contracts on who’s sold to who.
「 Last night, after my show ended, I went to Karaoke with Francie. That homosexual talent plays an active role, right? He told this. “An interesting performance is similar to a selling performance, but they’re not equal. No matter how interesting one is, entertainers won’t be able to survive if they can’t sell” 」
That ans.
「 It’s the sa with baking bread, right?1 A delicious bread isn’t equal to a selling bread, right? 」
Not equal?
「 No matter how many delicious breads you make, this woman has no experience of actually selling bread that is for sale 」
Katsuko-nee speaks up.
「 Yes, that’s right 」
I.
「 Sorry, Dear. I’ve been trying to teach you like I’m all great 」
「 No. This man depends on you too much that he thinks you know everything about making bread, isn’t why this happened? 」
That’s right, it’s .
I was thinking that I won’t make a mistake as long as I do it as Katsuko-nee says.
I thought of learning skills from Katsuko-nee as a study period, I was naive.
「 Sorry, Katsuko-nee. Yukino’s right 」
Oh.
「 It’s also Katsuko-nee’s first ti selling bread to custors, right 」
I didn’t notice that.
「 Katsuko-nee’s also feeling uneasy 」
Dammit.
「 And yet, I keep on depending on Katsuko-nee, so Katsuko-nee’s been keeping her front to not let feel uneasy 」
「 Sorry, Dear 」
Katsuko-nee apologizes to .
「 No. I’m the one at fault here. I didn’t understand Katsuko-nee’s feelings at all 」
I’m such a fool.
「 Earlier, this woman told you this, sothing about “starting one month, then three months.” This woman was talking to herself 」
Yukino.
「 Showing up on TV, that’s what I thought. I understood the atmosphere during the first month. I followed the flow on the third month. But, I don’t understand it all. I can’t survive on my own without people with experience, like Francie and Snatch 」
Yukino’s fighting.
She’s fighting alone in the TV world.
Katsuko-nee’s fighting in business for the first ti.
Seeing which bread will sell, which bread to make.
I wasn’t fighting at all.
All I do was hiding under Katsuko-nee’s umbrella.
I just do what I’m told, bake the bread I’m told to cook.
I didn’t notice Katsuko-nee’s thoughts.
I see.
This bakery and “bread-making course.”
This curriculum of learning business by the ti I graduate.
It’s not for
Minaho-neesan told Katsuko-nee as well to learn about business with the bakery in our school.
Therefore.
「 Katsuko-nee, I’ll also think about the managent from now on 」
What can I do?
「 I’ll help you think on which bread we can sell 」
「 Hah! Are you an idiot? You? Thinking? You can never co up with good ideas 」
Yukino said.
「 But I still will 」
「 That’s a waste of ti, you should listen to the opinions of your custors instead 」
Yukino?
「 Why are you still in the class? 」
My class?
「 If you’re planning to beco a baker, then you can quit school, right? Yet, why is Yuzuki still letting you have classes? 」
That’s.
「 If you’re selling bread to high school students, then research high school students. 」 If you’re a classmate, they’ll tell you anything, there’s no hard talk, right? 」
Ah.
Right.
「 Takana told this earlier 」
「 What? 」
Katsuko-nee asks .
「 He’s asking to get our class at least 50 yen discount 」
In short.
「 Tanaka thinks that the bread we’re selling is priced 50 yen higher 」
That’s right.
They’re my classmates, so they give out their honest opinions.
「 But, the bread you make is delicious. I confirm the taste every day 」
Katsuko-nee said.
「 That’s not it Katsuko-nee, it’s not about the price fitting the taste 」
That’s not it.
「 Compared to the bread sold to the school cafeteria, if they want to buy lunch bread, ours are a bit more pricy. That’s why 」
We need to know what the custors are looking for.
Don’t just pursue the taste.
We need to know what are the products of those in the sa market.
That’s what it ans to do business.
「 Katsuko-nee. Please join gu and Nei as they sell today 」
I said.
「 But, I’m not a student of this school 」
Oh, I see.
Katsuko-nee has a trauma from her first year in high school that she can’t co in.
Therefore, she’s only guiding .
She cos ho before the students co to buy bread.
She lets gu, Nei, and I take care of the store.
I didn’t notice even that.
「 That doesn’t matter. 」
I said.
「 This is Katsuko-nee’s shop, Katsuko-nee needs to feel the atmosphere of the custors 」
「 No, this is yours. 」 I’m only helping you out 」
I hold Katsuko-nee’s hand.
「 Then it’s our shop 」2
「 Dear 」
Katsuko-nee looks at .
「 Therefore, let’s sell them together. Study together. Let’s try out things together, fail together 」
That’s right.
「 Let’s overco those walls together 」
We’re not alone.
「 You’re right, got it 」
Katsuko-nee smiles.
「 Really, you all look like idiots. Seriously 」
Yukino mutters in an amazed tone.
1. You’re goddamn right
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