Chapter 68: Urgent Meeting
Author: Geraint
(3rd Person POV)
Ichika and his team captain were standing outside the bus, saying their farewells before departure.
"So, you're staying here?"
"Yeah. I have to help the soccer team tomorrow."
The captain looked at him with narrowed eyes, confused as to why Ichika accepted requests from different clubs.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but maybe you should just stick with one club."
"Well... I'm trying to expose myself to different sports. Basketball is just a hobby to me. You can already tell I'm not that passionate about it—but I just really hate losing, no matter the sport."
The captain smiled at that."Then... good luck to you."
"Yeah."
"You're always welcome to come back and carry our club."
"Haha! Sure."
The captain boarded the bus. The doors closed, and it drove off back to Tokyo.
Ichika turned and walked away from the school.
As he strolled down the street, he let out a sigh."Nejire-senpai... why are you following me?"
He turned around to see Nejire peeking from behind a pole.
"...You found me, Ichika-kun."
Nejire stepped out from hiding and approached him.
"You've been following me ever since I left your school after practice."
"Well... I saw your school bus leave without you. Why didn't you go home with them?"
"I've got a practice game tomorrow—for the soccer club."
"Huh?"
Nejire looked confused."Is that even allowed? You can only join one club, you know."
"Yeah, but I'm not officially a member of the basketball team. They just asked me to join a practice match with the soccer club. Against your school again."
"You're really weird, Ichika-kun. After knowing your secret, doing all this must be exhausting. Unless… you've got some other business here."
Ichika smiled."Yeah, you guessed right. I've got another mission here."
"Will you tell me the details?"
"No."
Ichika refused bluntly. Nejire pouted.
"So you're not going to tell me?"
"If you get involved with me, you'll regret it."
"I'm going to be a Pro Hero someday, Ichika-kun! Don't underestimate me!" she declared proudly.
"Oh?"Ichika looked skeptical.
A black car suddenly pulled up beside them. The window rolled down, revealing a man in a black suit and sunglasses.
"Mr. President, we've been waiting for you."
Ichika nodded, then glanced at Nejire."Sorry, Nejire-senpai. I've got business to take care of. See you at school tomorrow!"
He waved and opened the back door—
"Wait!"Nejire grabbed his arm.
"We're not finished yet!"
"Hey! I've got an urgent meeting—"
"Kyaah!"
Nejire was accidentally pulled inside with him.
"Nejire-senpai!" Ichika shouted.
"But there's so much I want to ask you!"
Ichika sighed and shut the car door so no outsiders could hear them.
"Fine. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Fujiwara Ichika, acting president of the Hero Public Safety Commission."
"Fujiwara? Which one's real? Yagi or Fujiwara?"
"Both! Yagi is just my alias for school."
Ichika was getting annoyed.
Nejire just smiled."Nee, Ichika-kun… won't you tell me now? I'm really curious."
"No! I'm sending you home."
Nejire pouted again.
"I apologize for the interruption, Mr. President, but we're running out of time," said the driver.
"Huh?"
"The president of the Western Hero Association is already waiting for you. We need to head straight to the meeting."
"The meeting was supposed to be tonight! Why are they so early?" Ichika complained.
"Their president wants to discuss additional topics before the bilateral meeting. Since this involves relations between two nations, we can't refuse."
"Ugh... fine."
Ichika groaned.
Nejire stayed silent, realizing this was more serious than she expected.
When they arrived at a luxurious building, Nejire hesitated.
"This seems really important... maybe I should just wait here?"
Ichika grabbed her hand.
"Eh?"
"You wanted to follow me? Then you're staying with me until the meeting ends."
"...Okay, but I'll wait outside the room."
"It's cold tonight. Wait in my room instead."
Left with no choice, Nejire followed him. They took the elevator to the highest floor.
Ichika noticed she was fidgeting.
"What's wrong? Told you not to get involved."
"Okay, okay! My fault!" she snapped back.
When they arrived on the floor, several staff members rushed toward them, clearly panicked.
"Mr. President! This is bad! The Western president brought his wife and they want to meet your wife too!"
"Huh?"
"They're asking for your wife—but you don't have one!"
Ichika squinted."Why don't you guys just find someone to pretend to be my wife?"
The room went silent… then everyone looked at Nejire.
"Ah!"
They pointed at her.
"Me?" Nejire said, pointing at herself.
A female staff member grabbed her shoulders."You look perfect together! There's no way they'll suspect a thing!"
Sweat formed on Nejire's temple as they dragged her off.
"Ichika-kun!" she cried out tearfully.
"You reap what you sow. I told you you'd regret it," Ichika muttered, watching her being taken away.
Now dressed in a traditional kimono, Nejire looked beautiful and mature. She wore light makeup to make her appear older.
(Ichika-kun!) she screamed in her head as she nervously faced the president and his wife—both blond and dressed in formal attire.
She bowed nervously.
"G-Good evening, Sir... Madam."
Her English was shaky, stuttered by nerves.
"Oh my," the First Lady said."She's beautiful… and so young!"
Nejire understood the compliment, but was too overwhelmed to respond properly.
"Uhm... T-Tank you..."
The Western couple exchanged concerned glances.
"Hey... are you alright? You look pale."
"Mrs. Fujiwara?"
Suddenly, Ichika entered the room.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Nejire blinked—shocked by his adult form.
"Ichika-kun?"
He sat beside her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her closer.
"Sorry about my wife. As you know, I'm only the acting president since Mr. Mera is hospitalized. She wasn't expecting to be called here."
"No worries!" the First Lady said."I just wanted to chat with her casually. I don't have any companions during the summit, so I thought I'd get to know her."
Ichika gently smiled at Nejire to calm her down.
"See? It's fine. I'll handle the politics—you just show the First Lady around, alright?"
Nejire smiled and nodded.
"Let's work hard together, Nejire."
"Yes, Darling!"
Ichika turned to the Western president.
"Now, let's get down to business."
He smiled menacingly.
"You were the ones trying to access restricted files, weren't you… Mr. French President?" he said in fluent French.
The president smirked back.
"As expected from the CEO of Yamagi Industries. Your cybersecurity is top-tier. Even my country's best hacker cried after failing to breach your systems."
"You call that a hacker? That guy's a toddler compared to my Hecker. Try again next time, old man."
"Don't forget—you're not the only one hoarding advanced tech. China, Russia, India, America, and all of Europe are watching you. You shouldn't keep all that technology to yourself."
"No."
Nejire's face turned pale. The mood was intense.
"You've already built the prototype, haven't you?"
"Yeah. It's done."
"President Ichika! Sell it to us!"
"I already told you. No."
The Western president stood up.
"My country needs those robot cat girls!"
"No! I don't care about your weird hobbies, old man!"
It was just casual banter between two world leaders—with zero relevance to politics.
(To be continued.)
A/N: I'll fix my mistakes later.