The next day. Yasuno really did co to Inari’s house—this ti with a car to pick her up.
“Good morning, Miss Kogami!”
“Oh, good morning. You’re early indeed.”
“Yes! I wanted to show you so wonderful properties as soon as possible!”
She said that, but yesterday Yasuno had truly been desperate.
Why, exactly? It had to do with the power balance within the Awakener Association.
The Association existed worldwide. Japan was overseen by the “Japan Headquarters,” just as each country had its own headquarters. While these branches cooperated, they were also rivals. The asure of strength was how many powerful awakeners one’s branch could boast. Having once failed and lost awakeners overseas, Japan was in a slightly weaker position.
…And this sa structure existed within Japan. Each regional branch scrambled to secure strong awakeners for themselves. Naturally, the Japan Headquarters in Tokyo did not want to be outdone. Whenever a great problem was solved, it mattered very much which branch could claim the awakener who had done it.
Fortunately, once awakeners or clans grew famous, they usually wanted to move to Tokyo, so that helped.
But—if an out-of-scale newcor like “Kogami Inari” were to move outside Tokyo, it might upset that balance. It sounded silly, but that was the reality. And Yasuno had no desire to be the one blad for triggering it.
Thus, with escalating urgency, approvals were obtained at lightning speed—from her boss’s boss’s boss, and ultimately even the HQ chief himself. With full support, Yasuno had co personally to fetch Inari.
“Mm, your enthusiasm is pleasing. Yet, coming so fast, you’ve not eaten breakfast, have you?”
“Ahaha, I-it’s fine.”
In truth, she hadn’t had ti and had stuffed down a calorie bar. But she couldn’t admit that. She laughed it off—then Inari said, “Wait here,” and returned inside, soon coming back with a wrapped bundle. It looked for all the world like a homade lunch box.
“I’ve not eaten either. I made too much, so it would please if you shared it on the way.”
“U-um, but—”
“Please, eat it for my sake. Truly, if you refuse, I may sulk.”
“Th-then I’ll eat it! We can have it in the car!”
“Mm, good, good.”
Strictly speaking, such a thing wasn’t proper. But if the most important person here—Inari—asked, it beca different. She could always report it as “part of her duty.” The adult world was full of such ssy justifications.
To Inari, though—soone who couldn’t bear to let others go hungry—such concerns were nonsense to toss away.
And so, nibbling salt rice balls together, they headed toward the properties Yasuno had already negotiated for and put on hold.
“First, this condominium.”
“Oh, it looks quite grand.”
It stood in one of the safest residential areas in Japan—near the Japan Headquarters itself. A low-rise condominium, for awakener only, ho to so of the most well-off. Security was impeccable.
Inside, vast rooms, a spacious living area, an open kitchen… even the bath and toilet were large, and the walk-in closet was practically a small room in itself.
“How is it? In a place like this, no suspicious person would dare approach.”
“It seems even I’d hesitate to approach… My old ho was already too much for . How am I ant to use all this alone? Truly, all I need is a low table, a futon to lay out, and a kitchen to cook rice.”
“Please reform your thinking, I beg you.”
“Nuuh…”
If they let Inari’s preference stand, she’d end up in a tiny studio apartnt. That was impossible. Too unsafe, and too unworthy of soone of her stature. Worse, if the Association placed her in such lodgings, outsiders might see it as neglect and try to lure her away abroad.
“Miss Kogami, you’re earning a lot of money.”
“Am I now?”
“Yes. I can tell you haven’t checked your balance. But—to give perspective—you could buy this entire building outright. And awakener like you… living in a place that matches their success is part of the job.”
“But to squander wealth simply because I have it—surely that is unwise?”
“You’re underspending to a painful degree…”
“Hm…”
To Inari, one room was enough. Just as Yasuno feared. Still, she understood that her preference caused Yasuno trouble. She had no confidence she could ever “use” a place like this properly… but if it was truly part of her duty, she could accept it.
“Well then… perhaps this shall do.”
“I do still have seven more options…”
“No need to trouble thyself further. This one is fine.”
And so Inari’s new ho was decided, with the move scheduled soon after.
“With this, we’ll also need to buy furniture and tableware. What you had before belongs to HQ’s property, and more importantly, none of it suits this place. We’ve prepared a selection and estimate already.”
“Oh, that is a help… Hm. ’Tis expensive indeed. Wouldn’t sothing cheaper do?”
Compared to the price of the condo, it was nothing. Yasuno didn’t say that.
And so, for the first ti ever, the Japan Headquarters of the Awakener Association launched a full-support relocation—for Inari.
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