By being kind to people, I became the boss of a criminal organization. - Chapter 16: Monochrome Girl
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- By being kind to people, I became the boss of a criminal organization.
- Chapter 16: Monochrome Girl
After meeting with Sakata and the others, Kirino returned to her hideout.
Inside the car carrying her was the driver and one other person—-
“Kirino-sama. You look pretty tired.”
One of her subordinates, who had recently joined her, was riding with her.
“I’m tired〜… I was scared……”
Kirino let out a small sigh.
“Kirino-sama, you’re scared too, aren’t you?”
“I’m sure, after all!”
Kirino answered her subordinate with a big smile.
“But why were you called to pick me up?”
Her subordinate asked her in a slightly bewildered tone.
The truth is, I received a message from Kirino saying, “Get in the car to pick me up!” and am riding with her.
Unlike her other subordinates, she had light and straight eyes.
Partly because of Kirino’s pure personality, she was one of the subordinates she’d been a little curious about lately.
Kirino asked her a question.
“Hey, when you asked me your name, you said you didn’t have one.”
“Yes. Our subordinates exist to pursue various strategies. They’re just sacrificial pawns. Such sacrificial pawns don’t need names.”
Kirino seemed a little troubled by her subordinate saying that.
(He’s so stiff… This side of him is no different from his subordinates.)
(Come to think of it, Boss did say that the other day…)
She recalled a certain phrase.
◇◇◇
“Those in a higher position are the ones who show mercy to those in a lower position.”
Those were the words Boss had spoken at the executive meeting.
“Boss! Why do you have to show mercy to a being not worth anything below?”
Kirino tilted her head.
The other executives didn’t seem to have much of an understanding and didn’t specify it.
“Even if they’re as small as their subordinates, if they band together with dozens or hundreds of people, there’s a chance that something will happen that even we can’t deal with.”
“I don’t think those dead fish-eyed guys have cohesion or anything…”
Hirata made a small rebuttal to the Boss’s words.
“That’s the idea.”
“Huh?”
Boss spread her arms wide as she spoke.
The top brass gasped at the intimidating aura and the aura the Boss exuded.
“It’s precisely because of that idea that there’s a possibility that we won’t be able to deal with it when push comes to shove.”
Kuzuryu crossed her arms and asked Boss a question.
“What kind of possibilities do you think I’ll consider and give you mercy so you don’t think I’ll rebel or betray you?”
“Exactly. Do you understand now?”
Boss nodded as if to say she was right.
As if following suit, the top brass responded with applause.
“Boss! I’ll be nice to my subordinates from now on, too!”
“Kirino. That’s a wonderful mindset.”
“Not that much!”
◇◇◇
Remembering the Boss’s words, Kirino announced to her subordinates with an expression that said, “I’ve got a flash!”
“Okay! I like you! I’ll give you the name ‘Kazuichi starting today!”
As she spoke, her eyes shone with light.
“Kazuichi..?”
Her subordinate murmured in a quiet voice.
I could also sense that her voice was bewildered and a little unsatisfied.
It’s as if she’s denying Kirino’s naming sense
Seeing her subordinate like that, Kirino continued.
“I don’t have any subordinates who get special treatment like this. Aren’t you happy?”
A cold voice emanated from Kirino.
The light in her eyes gradually faded, and I felt the sun-like atmosphere slowly turning into murderous.
“No, I’m very happy. Thank you very much.”
Her trembling voice echoed throughout the car.
Kirino nodded in satisfaction at her words with an expression that said yes.
For a moment, I felt murderous intent.
If I hadn’t said anything, I would have been killed.
Sweat ran down my subordinate’s “Kazuichi” forehead.
“Then let’s go home and talk it over!”
“…What are we going to talk about?”
Contrary to Kirino’s energetic voice, she spoke to him in the most anxious voice she could muster
“Whatever you say,
… It’s about the future!
You’ll be working as my aide from now on.”
Kirino’s face looked like an innocent child’s as she laughed and spoke.
◇◇◇
It’s almost autumn, but it’s the beginning of September, as hot as midsummer.
“It’s cool… It brings me back to life.”
I’m at the shopping mall.
The reason is to get everything we need for Hokkaido next week.
What should I take to Hokkaido? When I think about that, I can get pretty much everything if I go to this shopping mall.
You can buy necessities, food, new clothes, shoes, and accessories here.
It’s not like I’m going on a trip or anything!!
I had no plans to buy anything but the bare minimum.
However, even so, there were more things to take with me.
I thought about reducing my load as much as possible, but when I saw what I liked, I tossed what I thought was good into the cart and took it to the register.
That’s strange… Before I knew it, it was decided that I’d buy it.
“It’s heavy…”
I walk around with two large bags in each hand.
Guess I’ll get some food.
With that thought in mind, I was heading to the restaurant.
“……”
Various swimsuits appear in my field of vision.
Yes, a swimsuit.
Perhaps because it’s still hot outside, this shopping mall still has shops specializing in sea goods.
A swimsuit, huh…
It would be a bit of a waste not to go to the sea to Hokkaido in the summer.
At the meeting, I joked about going to the beach, but…
Kuzuryu and Satsuki said they were going to buy swimsuits.
I don’t know how serious she is…
Guess I’ll take a look.
I entered the store with heavy steps.
When I did, I saw a variety of swimsuits on display.
There were even blue swimsuits with a dark tinge, a small cloth area, and some string on display.
I burn it into my eyes as I head deeper into the store.
I don’t think it’ll be that good…
Just as I was thinking that…
In the floating ring sales corner was a girl whose eyes were shining with excitement at the dolphin floats.
She was a girl who looked tall enough to be less than a middle schooler.
Normally, I’d think it was a child of some parent or child, but my eyes were drawn to a distinctive spot.
Twin tails, neatly separated right from left, black and white, two-colored hair.
She wore a white blouse, a black skirt, and black socks.
Even her shoes were wearing pure white sneakers.
She was unified in black and white as if she were black and white.
A strange sense of discomfort assaulted me.
That’s when it happened.
“―――!”
My eyes met hers as she gazed at the dolphin float.
Crap, did they find out I was watching the whole time?
This will be reported to the police.
I didn’t think I’d be caught personally before being seen as Empress.
As I was thinking about that, the girl spoke to me.
“What’s the point? Something’s wrong with me.”
An inorganic, robotic voice echoes in my ears.
“No, I was just thinking you’re quite interested in dolphin floats…”
“That’s right. I can’t swim.”
Even though you can’t swim, you’re still coming to a beach goods store…?
I suppressed the words that came out of my mouth and began to speak to her.
“Do you have any parents? Lost?”
Even when I looked around, I couldn’t see what looked like a parent.
I thought she was lost, so I asked her that question. Am I wrong?
She shook her head, hung a little, and began to speak as if spilling a word.
“Excuse me. I’m an adult.”
Adults…? Their appearance, manner of speech, and atmosphere all give off the air of a young child…
“Y-Yeah. Sorry. Excuse me.”
When I answered, she nodded slightly and looked up.
“Don’t worry. More importantly, are you going on a trip?”
A trip…? Well, it’s not a mistake, so I guess I’ll go along with it.
“Yeah, but what do you want?”
“I’m going on a trip too. But I’ve never traveled alone, so I don’t know how to get there.”
She spoke as if racking her brain.
I see. Indeed, I don’t know what to do when I’m going on a trip alone for the first time.
“By the way, where are we going?”
“Hokkaido.”
Hokkaido?!
I mentally retort.
I want to say Hokkaido, too, but considering the circumstances, I wouldn’t know…
I think for a moment—-
I showed her my cell phone screen.
“Why don’t you try using this travel site? It lets you reserve planes and boats immediately and even look for inns.”
That’s the site Kuzuryu was using to get to Hokkaido this time.
It was recommended for private trips in the future.
She immediately accessed the site I told her about on her cell phone.
Her eyes sparkle as she looks at the site.
“This is easy to understand. You saved me. Thank you.”
She thanked me, blushing slightly.
Seeing her like that, I averted my gaze, feeling embarrassed.
Just then, my cell phone starts ringing.
I looked at the screen and saw a familiar name displayed on it.
Seeing her name, I immediately decided to answer the phone.
“Hello?”
『―――Boss. Sorry for calling you so suddenly.』
The owner of the voice apologizing over the phone was Satsuki.
“I’m fine. What’s wrong?”
“Well… I can’t choose the clothes I will wear to Hokkaido, so I’d like you to choose.”
“… Don’t tell me that’s why you contacted me?”
“Oh? Was I wrong?”
Why would I let a guy like me choose?
Ask Hirata or Kotori Yuu.
“I think there’s someone better suited for the job than me…”
“I want you to choose me, Boss.”
Why?!
I’m out shopping!
I don’t have time to pick out clothes.
“Haah…”
I let out a sigh.
But I don’t want to turn down the top brass’ requests and retaliate later…
“Understood. I’ll be on my way now.”
“I knew a kind boss would come! I’ll be waiting for you, then!”
I ended the call with Satsuki.
“I’m fine. Did something happen?”
Perhaps out of concern for my melancholy, the black-and-white girl beside me spoke to me.
“No, I was just called by someone at work. I’m going home.”
The girl in front of me looks a little sad at my words—-
“You’re a kind person. I want to be friends with you from now on.”
Saying that she showed me the QR code of the messaging app.
“Do you normally exchange contact information with someone you just happened to talk to on your first meeting?”
“Normally, you wouldn’t. But you’re special.”
“Special…?”
I exchanged contact information with her, a little suspicious.
“—Because you can see a kind soul.”
She was muttering something, but I couldn’t hear her.
◇◇◇
“Okay then. See you next time.”
“I don’t know if there’ll be a next time, but… the next time we meet, tell me what you think of Hokkaido.”
Saying that Sakata left the shopping mall.
Left alone, the black-and-white girl muttered a few words.
“I’d like to see him again next time. He’s probably the chosen one.”
Her cell phone rang. The girl’s expression clouded a little at the voice coming from the phone.
But she quickly returns to her normal expression and responds.
“Hello? What is it?”
She spoke to the person on the phone.
“Okay. I’ll get it ready now.”
Saying that, the girl hangs up.
Before she knew it, a car had stopped right before her.
She got into the car in silence.
Inside the car was a woman in a white coat.
She spoke to the black-and-white girl.
“How was shopping?
——-Second.”
The girl asked——-
“It was a good encounter. A good harvest.”
“Meet…? Not shopping…?”
The woman in the white coat wore a bewildered expression.
Without even looking at her, the black-and-white girl flapped her legs and gave a satisfied smile.