Life is like a video game. Boss fights and difficult dungeon crawls often come with rewards. Something good happens. Even if life doesn't always go as well as a video game, hard work is often rewarded with something good. So when Tsukinomori-san invited me to dinner with him, I expected some good news about the 05th Floor Alliance's future.
Our performance in the first round of the National Drama Fair had come and gone, and it was now evening. The drama club and Alliance members had looked forward to throwing an after-party, but I excused myself the moment the CEO contacted me. Iroha told me I was being a wet blanket (in stronger terms), but what could I do? You could invite me to the best party in the world, but if the CEO of Honeyplace Works says he wants to talk to me, I'm there.
I ran for the restaurant, knowing now exactly how my dad felt when he had to put work above family. We'd agreed to meet at a classy hot-plate place that specialized in fine meats.
"There should be a booking under Tsukinomori from Honeyplace Works," I said when I arrived.
"Ah, yes. There's already somebody here for that booking. Please follow me." The greeter walked me through the restaurant, which was themed after a Japanese garden. There were bamboo ornaments, hanging lanterns, and those water fountains with the donking bamboo.
"This way, sir."
"Thank you."
The attendant slid open a thin door for me and I stepped into a private
room.
"Hey there, Akiteru-kun! Sorry for the short notice!"
There he was: the handsome middle-aged man who held all my hopes and
dreams in his hands. One of those hands was giving me a friendly wave. He had a classy mustache, and though his outfit looked simple to start with, anybody in the know would recognize just how much that suit of his cost.
This was Tsukinomori Makoto-san: my uncle, and Mashiro's dad. He was also one of Japan's foremost CEOs, the president of Honeyplace Works, a huge entertainment enterprise. I looked as humble as I could as I took a seat opposite him.
"Not at all. Us high schoolers have plenty of time on our hands. So what did you want to speak to me about?"
"Nothing in particular, my boy, just wondering how things were going with Mashiro."
"Wh-Which 'things' do-do-do you mean?"
Dammit!
He caught me totally off guard and I gave my response with all the grace of a reversing dump truck without any tires on. I mean, you'd be the same, right? I thought I sorted out the whole Mashiro situation, not to mention the whole drama club thing literally today, so my guard was at an all-time low when he sprung that complicated topic on me.
"I'm talking about your fake relationship, of course! You're not about to tell me you guys are going at it for real, are you?"
"O-Of course not! Do I look like the kind of guy who's got time to waste on love?"
"Maybe not, but everyone has desires. If Mashiro jumped at you, you wouldn't be able to resist, right?"
"I-I totally would!"
"What?! Are you saying my daughter has no sex appeal?!"
"Well, what do you want me to say?!"
If he was going to get this wound up about it, I might as well spill
everything.
"Right, truth is, Mashiro fell in love with me and then a load of stuff happened and I ended up taking her out to dinner at a high-class restaurant so I could reject her. But then she said she wasn't going to give up and now she's trying to make me fall for her at every turn and—"
Well, it'd probably be difficult to finish that story with my uncle's hands on my throat.
Okay, calm down. Remember, you're here to kiss this guy's ass...
"Well, it's going fine right now. Mashiro's even made herself a friend, and she looks like she's enjoying every day."
"Thought so. Sometimes she'll call me or send me a text, so I know how
happy she is. Haven't heard her that happy in a while, to be honest. I'm really glad now that she transferred and...I'm grateful to you, Akiteru-kun."
"Oh, no! I haven't done anything, really."
"Come now, no need to be modest! I respect your work ethic, plus all the work you do with your Alliance buddies. Every day you guys give me more and more reason to support you, which makes things a whole lot easier on my end. I even saw what you did at the Fair!"
"You know about that?"
I never mentioned the drama club to him at all. It had nothing to do with game development, so I didn't think it was necessary to tell him about it.
"Mashiro told me. Said you got up on stage yourself in the end. I'm sure you were great!"
"That was only because our main actor got held up and couldn't make it, so I had to step in. It was nothing, really."
"Filling in for other people is not 'nothing,' though I guess you won't believe me when I say that. Y'know, taking compliments is also a skill!"
"Then it's a skill I've yet to learn."
"Mashiro sent me some snaps too. You look pretty good in them! Wanna see?"
"No, thank you! I can't stand that sort of thing," I said quickly, seeing the grin on Tsukinomori-san's face as he tried to show me his phone.
I didn't even know Mashiro was taking pictures. She must've put the shutter sound on silent. Still, didn't she know it was rude to snap photos during a performance? If not, I'd have to tell her.
"So then...you called me here just to poke fun at me for going on stage?" I frowned. Hopefully that didn't come out too grumpy.
Tsukinomori-san's grin widened. "Of course not! I actually have someone I wanna introduce you to!"
"Huh?"
"Yep. Listen, you're a great director—or should I say, manager? I know you've got a great future ahead of you."
"You're...exaggerating."
"Of course, that doesn't mean I'm gonna put you on a triple-A project right outta high school. That'll depend on your choices and how much work you put in. But, if you take this time to deepen your connections with the right people, learn what makes 'em tick, I'm sure you'll be standing shoulder-to-
shoulder with us in no time."
"I'll look forward to it. So, who do you want to introduce me to?"
"The CEO of Tenchido, of course. You've heard of 'em, right?" "Tenchido?!" My voice cracked.
Tenchido was a world-famous games company headquartered in Kyoto.
They dominated a huge share of the market with a wide catalog of games, popular among all ages. Their I.P.s were also well-loved worldwide, and they were a giant both in the hardware and the software market. Tenchido in the west of Japan, and Honeyplace Works in the east... That's what many gamers saw as the two giant halves of Japan's entertainment industry.
"I've heard of them. Tenchido was slow on the uptake when smartphones came into wider use, and Honeyplace Works was way ahead for a while, but then the new CEO made a ton of sweeping changes and they got back in the game."
The CEO was famous. Famous for never once accepting an interview, and never once being seen in public. Famous for being totally unknown. Some said the CEO didn't actually exist, and was a character made up by a group of overseas consultants. Others said Tenchido called down the spirit of a deceased Silicon Valley hero, one that pioneered the spread of smartphones.
Those were some of the saner theories circulating too.
"And we're meeting here?"
"Yup. Oh, speak of the devil."
I gasped, hearing footsteps coming from the other side of the sliding door.
I instantly sat up a few degrees straighter. This CEO was in the same league as Tsukinomori-san; to say I was nervous was an understatement. Messing up in front of Tsukinomori-san was fine, since he was my uncle. But this CEO was a whole different ballpark. Forget just kissing asses here, I'd make out with it if I had to!
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Oh, how embarrassing! Tee hee! After you set up this very special meeting with such a young, sweetheart director."
"Huh?" I stiffened with shock as I saw the head of Tenchido come into view.
She stared at my face, her huge eyes blinking with curiosity. She looked just as surprised to see me as I was her.
"This is Amachi Otoha-san, head of Tenchido. Amachi-san, this is my nephew, Ooboshi Akiteru-kun, and...you both look like you've seen a ghost."
"Oh, goodness me! Oh, goodness, goodness me! Oh my!"
"Hm? Amachi-san? Do you maybe...wait, let's not go there. I understand my nephew is just as charming as me, even if he might not be aware of it yet, but you are a married woman, and he's a high school student. Let's leave it right there, okay?"
Way to make things even more awkward.
As if he would know, anyway. I just... Why was she here?!
"Now, now, Tsukinomori-san! You know that sexual harassment is a big
no-no!" Amachi-san raised a finger and waggled it at Tsukinomori-san like he was a naughty toddler.
The word "goddess" fit her like a glove. Her golden hair was perfectly braided and tied into a single plait that fell over her chest. She was wearing a woolen jacket paired with a long skirt. She looked more the part of a housewife going out on the weekend than the brilliant CEO of a multi-billion yen company.
"Oh, but this is a surprise. I was so looking forward to meeting somebody new, and then it turns out he's my next-door neighbor!"
"I didn't expect to see you here either, Kohinata-san."
The CEO of Tenchido, Amachi Otoha. In other words, the woman I often met around my apartment block: Ozu and Iroha's mother.
***
"I never expected you two would know each other! Small world, eh?" "It certainly is! Tee hee!"
To any waitress walking in, we probably looked like we were having a
peaceful meal together. Tsukinomori-san and Amachi-san were heartily dipping their Hida beef into the boiling broth, talking and laughing together like old friends. I, meanwhile, was sitting there in a cold sweat.
My brain was completely frazzled. Iroha took a huge risk when she stepped on stage today. And now, I was having dinner with her mom. It couldn't be coincidence, right? I couldn't shake the feeling that her mom caught wind of it somewhere and was here to investigate. The worry made the beef on my plate taste like a clump of grease.
"What's the matter, Akiteru-kun? You can eat as much as you want! Meat's important to get the ol' testosterone flowing!"
"Oh, um. Thank you..."
"Please don't mind my nephew. He's not used to these kinds of meetings yet. Don't hold it against him."
"Tee hee! Don't worry, it's cute! Shall I feed you, sweetie?"
"U-Um, no, thank you..."
I wanted to tell her not to treat me like a kid, but I held my tongue. I never
knew she could be so coddling. Thinking back, Iroha did mention she hated being treated like a kid, precisely because her mom used to smother her. I suddenly understood where she was coming from.
"No need to be shy! Ozuma and Iroha tell me you're always doing so much for them! This is the least I can do!"
"Uh, um... Please just put it here..."
I suppressed the urge to bite her fingers, took a small bowl, and held it out to her as she offered me the thin strip of meat. Kohinata-san pouted as she dropped the meat into my bowl of ponzu.
"Still, I never imagined the head of the 05th Floor Alliance would be such a cutie! Life is full of surprises, don't you think?"
"Wh-What? You know... You know about the Alliance?"
"Everybody knows! In my line of work, at least!"
This was getting worse by the second. This was the same mother who
took everything entertainment and show business-related away from Iroha and Ozu's lives. To think she was one of the biggest names in the very industry she sheltered them from... It was almost funny, except it wasn't.
We'd been absolutely sure their mother'd never find out about the Alliance till we'd be making headlines on the news. Since she hated stuff like that so much, there was just no way she'd find out about some small indie developer for a mobile game.
But just now, Iroha's mother had come in like a wrecking ball and smashed that idea to bits.
Hang on, though. Iroha and Ozu never mentioned their mom was Tenchido's president. Were they keeping it a secret? Somehow, I didn't think so; keeping it under wraps wouldn't make any sense.
"I didn't know you worked at Tenchido...and my uncle introduced you as Amachi-san, rather than Kohinata-san, right?"
"I work under my maiden name, sweetheart! I was already well known under the name 'Amachi,' so it didn't make any sense to change it. Forcing
everyone around me to memorize a whole new surname seemed awfully inefficient!"
"I can well understand that."
"I'm not surprised it's news to you either! I haven't told either of my children!"
"You...haven't told them?"
"That's right! I wouldn't want to bring my boring, stuffy old job home with me. That's why I'm living all the way out here in Kanto while the HQ is in Kyoto! Moving is such a hassle anyway! At home, I just wanna be a normal mommy. I don't do media appearances, and never told my kids my maiden name, so they shouldn't be finding out about me anytime soon!"
There was a peculiar light in Amachi-san's eyes as she spoke, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. I got the sense that it had something to do with why her children were shielded from the entertainment industry, though. I decided to press her a little.
"You think your job is 'boring' and 'stuffy'?"
"Absolutely. We just fling products onto the market and make exactly as much as we've projected. It never ends, and it's awfully dull."
"Now that's what I call a shrewd businesswoman! Of course, if you weren't, you wouldn't have been able to save that sinking ship of a company. You pushed through reforms, and used tricks those old industry dogs'd never be able to learn."
"Tee hee! And don't the creators hate me for it!"
Right! This was Iroha and Ozu's mom we were talking about. Seeing the calm smile on her face, I finally understood. She hated the entertainment industry and the performing arts. In return, she was hated by the entire industry—but it didn't bother her in the slightest, because she had no love for her work.
"Amachi-san is a master at finding and eliminating inefficiencies. You get it, right, Akiteru-kun? There is a lot you can learn by listening to her."
I didn't know what to say. I knew my uncle probably meant well. I was sure he organized this meeting for the benefit of my future. A dinner with the two leading figures in Japanese entertainment from both sides of the country. Anybody who wanted to involve themselves in the industry would kill for an opportunity like this. I was nothing if not grateful to my uncle for handing it to me.
"I understand what you're saying, but I don't think Kohinata-san—I mean, Amachi-san—and I are all that similar deep down."
"Oh?"
"I love everyone in the 05th Floor Alliance. I love the product they've worked so hard on from the bottom of my heart. I don't just want it to sell; I want it to be a good product. If I was in it for the money, I'd go into law or medicine or something."
"Goodness me!" Amachi-san's eyes narrowed curiously and she gazed at my face. "Who exactly are these Alliance members you love so dearly, Ooboshi-kun? I'd love to know!"
It was like staring into the eyes of Medusa. An icy claw gripped my heart. There was suspicion in her gaze. I had no idea how much she already knew, but she definitely had at least an inkling of something. A cold sweat ran down my back. My heart pounded. Should I expose Ozu and Iroha here in some kind of declaration of war?
No, it was too soon. There's a time and place for everything. Now was not that time, and here was not that place. We'd reveal everything only once we were sure Ozu and Iroha could escape their mother's orbit (with or without my help).
But if I spilled the beans now, I'd be throwing away everything. Caution was the better part of valor. The cogs in my head whirred as I tried to come up with a way out.
"Ah! The pot's boiling over! Sorry, folks! Looks like I put the heat on too high!" Tsukinomori-san quickly reached for the knob to turn the heat down. "Gaaah! Ouch! L-Look, Amachi-san! My finger's burning up!"
"Oh, goodness me, what a fright you gave me! Why don't you douse it in water?"
"I've got it! Why don't you take a swig of water and suck on my finger? I'm sure that'll patch it right up!"
"Are you sure you burned yourself, because you seem awfully cheerful..."
"Aaaaaaah! Not the teapot! Ouch! Aaaah! Y-You're such a marvelous sadist, Amachi-san!"
I let out a silent sigh of relief. I knew there was nothing wrong with the temperature the burner was set at; my uncle just sensed I was in trouble and gave me an out. Even though he liked to mess around, he was good at looking after those under his care, just like a CEO should be.
He blew on his finger to cool it off before pausing suddenly and taking out his phone.
"Now, I know my nephew might be a little cheeky, but you can't deny his talent. Take a look at this!"
"Oh? Let me see."
"This is a photo of Akiteru-kun my daughter took. He was helping out the drama club and even got on stage to fill in for one of the actors today! You wouldn't expect an ordinary high schooler to be involved in game development, would you? Well, how about being a talented actor on top of that? It's like my nephew can do anything!"
Amachi-san frowned at the screen.
Shit!
My uncle clearly decided that showing her that photo was the best way to clear the awkward air, but he didn't know anything about the situation in the Kohinata household. It was too late. That was the photo from before, right? Even though I never saw it, it likely showed Iroha and me performing together in the Fair.
I held my breath as I watched Amachi-san stare at the photo in silence. Her eyes widened steadily and her expression transformed. It was all over. Time for damage control. I mentally went over every question she could fire at me, and every defense in my arsenal. I just needed to pick the right one. Anything to—
"My, this has to be the most adorable photograph I've ever seen!" Amachi clutched the phone to her chest.
...
What?
Her unexpected reaction threw a wrench between the gears in my head.
"Oh, you like it that much? Of course, I'm very proud of my nephew, but even I don't think it's that good!"
"Oh, sweetie, of course I'm not talking about your nephew! I meant the girl who took the photo!"
"What? Mashiro?"
"That's right! Did you even look at this, Tsukinomori-san?" Amachi-san turned the phone towards us.
The photo was a close-up of me (and only me) on the stage.
"She's so taken with Ooboshi-kun that she completely ignored the other
actors! I bet she took a billion photos trying to get the best angle she could! This was obviously the best one! It's just so perfect! I bet she's so super- duper in love with him! It's just adorable!"
"I...I see."
All the tension in my body drained and I almost fell out of my chair. I worked myself up for nothing. But seriously, who takes a photo of just one actor?!
"Your girl took this photo, right, Tsukinomori-san? Hey, maybe your nephew's turning into a real ladies' man!"
"O-Oh, no!" I quickly cut in. "I mean, there's nothing between Mashiro and me."
"Getting flustered are we, sweetie? Look at that bright red face! Aah, my heart can barely take it!" Amachi-san squealed, poking at my face.
She was so damn...annoying!
"Anything you'd like to share with the class, Akiteru-kun?"
"No! There's nothing between us! Now put down that steak knife!" "You can't fool me! Don't tell me...you and Mashiro are having the time
of your lives sharing in the joy of springtime love! It's... That's... I'm... I'm so jealous! Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Tsukinomori-san was biting his bottom lip so hard he was drawing blood.
"Tee hee! Oh, don't make a fuss, Tsukinomori-san! High school is the perfect time to mess around!" Amachi-san leaned over to give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "High school is about living your best life, and that includes romance! I wish you and Mashiro-chan a very happy future together, Ooboshi-kun!"
She smiled sweetly at me.
"Uh, thanks. Though I mean it when I say there's nothing between us..." I mumbled, knowing if I insisted any harder she would take it as proof to the contrary.
I didn't have a good read on Amachi-san yet, but at least Iroha's acting was still a secret. I spent the rest of the evening hanging out with those drunken adults right up until closing time.