I Asked A Beautiful Girl, Who Was About To Jump Off The School Rooftop, 'If You're Going To Die Anyway, Could You At Least Take My Virginity Before You Go?' To My Surprise, She Agreed. - Chapter 60: The Former Introvert Gathers Information.

The Former Introvert Gathers Information.

That same night.

I had summoned a certain individual to a park near my home.

Upon arriving at the park, that person was already there.

“Hey, Yakumo. How do you justify calling a beauty like me to a local park?”

It was Diona, a witch from another world and an information broker. Dressed in her usual punk attire, she blended seamlessly into this world, sitting on a swing in the park.

“It can’t be helped. I’m short on cash and my curfew is strict,” I replied.

“Ha, you sound just like a typical high school student.”

“Well, I consider myself an ordinary high school student.”

Though I had returned from another world, I believed I was no different from the average high schooler in most respects.

“If you want to avoid drawing attention, that’s fine. But I could introduce you to some lucrative part-time jobs that would put your abilities to good use.”

“I’m guessing they’d involve doing something shady. I’ll pass, thanks.”

“I figured as much. I also knew you would refuse and that you called me here for a specific purpose.”

As Diona stood up on the swing, she smiled with an air of nonchalance.

“Sorry to interrupt your posing, but I’d like to know how the investigation I requested is going.”

“…You’re pretty harsh, you know.”

“It’s been quite some time since then. By now, there should be some kind of progress, don’t you think?”

I had asked Diona to look into the whereabouts of Hatsune-san’s parents. I had brought it up just before summer vacation began. At that time, Diona had said, “Let’s continue this once the investigation results come in,” but several weeks had passed since then.

“To put it simply, the specific location is still unknown. What is confirmed is that they are on the other side of the world… that’s all we know.”

“So that means Hatsune-san’s parents are alive in another world,” I remarked.

“Exactly. For now, we have detected signs of life. However, I cannot guarantee that their situation is safe.”

Diona nodded, seemingly dissatisfied. She must have been aware that she was struggling with this case.

“The fact that you have taken this long suggests that Hatsune-san’s parents are in some unusual circumstances, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. If they were living normally, I would have found them by now… but I don’t plan to take much longer from here.”

So it seemed we were close to a breakthrough.

Hearing this information, my first thought was how to convey it to Hatsune-san. While I now knew that her parents were alive, there was no concrete evidence to back this up. It was simply the claim of the witch in front of me.

I had no intention of doubting Diona’s information, but others might. For instance, Hatsune-san’s uncle would likely refuse to listen to someone like me—an anonymous student—claiming that Hatsune-san’s parents were alive, especially if it was an inconvenient truth for him.

Hatsune-san probably wouldn’t outright deny it, but it would be awkward to give her false hope. Therefore, this information was not useful in addressing the current issues surrounding Hatsune-san.

I urgently needed to obtain more information.

“I’ve got a grasp on Hatsune-san’s parents’ situation for now. But there’s something else I want to ask today.”

“You’re referring to Ichigaya Hatsune-san’s uncle and cousin, right?”

“…You’re quick on the uptake.”

“Yeah. Although it’s a bit of an apology for the delay in locating her parents, I’m willing to give you a comprehensive set of information for free this time.”

“That’s unusually generous of you…”

“I’ve always tried to be generous towards you.”

Though her offer felt somewhat patronizing despite being labeled an apology, I decided to let it slide. I inquired about Hatsune-san’s uncle and his son—essentially, Hatsune-san’s cousin.

First, regarding the uncle.

His name is Tsukishima Kouzou.

He is Hatsune-san’s grandfather and the chairman of the Ichigaya Group’s eldest son, Ichigaya Kuranosuke. However, he lost credibility after a major business failure in the past.

As a result, he was sent away as a son-in-law to the president’s family of a related company within the group, adopting their surname.

He had kept a low profile for a while, but ever since Hatsune-san’s father went missing, he has been unusually prosperous and gaining power, despite the company’s poor performance.

His reputation within the group is low, and it’s a common belief that, although he is the eldest son, it’s improbable for him to become the next chairman after having deviated from the path once.

He is often criticized for being skilled only in underhanded tactics, and it is said that his current position as president of one of the companies in the group is due to the chairman’s benevolence.

Next, about the cousin.

His name is Tsukishima Kuon.

He works for the Ichigaya Group’s general trading company, rather than the family business, and is highly regarded as a promising young talent.

Although he is the direct grandson of the chairman, he has a strained relationship with his father and grandfather, resulting in a distant bond with his grandfather.

He is technically considered a candidate for the next chairman, but being Kouzou’s son diminishes his standing, and the fact that he does not carry the surname “Ichigaya” greatly undermines his prospects.

Had it not been for his father’s failures, he might have had a chance to rise to the top of the group, which has led to tensions between father and son.

However, recently, Kouzou, seeking to strengthen his power by making his son the chairman, and Kuon, aspiring to take the top position in the group, have formed an alliance.

Kouzou arranged a marriage proposal to bring Kuon back into the Ichigaya fold.

And that marriage partner is none other than Hatsune-san.

This proposal is a last-ditch effort for Kuon to obtain the “family background” that he has been lacking.

In this manner, Diona provided a range of information, from details that seemed commonly known to insights that were unlikely to circulate among the company’s insiders.

“I’ve got a decent understanding of the kind of people they are… but in this day and age, is family background really that important for becoming a corporate leader?”

The notion of resorting to a politically arranged marriage was foreign to me, having grown up in a typical family.

“That’s a form of brand and tradition. The chairmen of Ichigaya have always been exceptional individuals, which is why everyone accepted it. There was a suitable candidate for the next chairman in Hatsune-san’s father, but with him gone, the situation has become complicated.”

“I see…”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but wish that Diona would find Hatsune-san’s parents quickly. I suppose that’s why she offered this information as an “apology.”

“What does Hatsune-san’s grandfather—the chairman—think about her marriage proposal?”

“I haven’t gathered any information on that yet. However, if he were to find out, he would likely take a negative stance. The chairman does not regard the abilities of that father-son pair as highly as Hatsune-san’s father, so he would consider them insufficient to take over.”

“So even if Hatsune-san were to marry, wouldn’t that fail to achieve the objective?”

“Ultimately, this marriage isn’t aimed at having the chairman designate a successor. It’s meant to provide leverage to convince the people within the group after his death. The chairman, being old, has stubbornly refused to appoint a new successor.”

It seems that Hatsune-san’s grandfather might not have given up on her father just yet.

However, this raised a question in my mind.

“From what I’ve heard, it’s puzzling why Hatsune-san’s grandfather entrusted her guardianship to someone he doesn’t fully trust. Was he simply uninterested in her?”

“Who knows? At the very least, there’s no information indicating that the chairman made a request. Perhaps he was caught off guard during a moment of despair after losing his successor, or it could be a sign of leniency towards family.”

“Leniency?”

“Even after sending him off as a son-in-law, the fact that he still has a position in the group is the chairman’s way of showing compassion. So, when Kouzou raised his hand to be her guardian, the chairman likely interpreted it as affection for his niece and tacitly accepted it.”

“Is that so…?”

To be honest, I found Diona’s speculation hard to grasp.

Hatsune-san had mentioned that she was distant from her grandfather, and I hadn’t gotten the impression that she was cared for by her family.

“Well, I wouldn’t know how he actually feels if you asked me,” Diona remarked.

“That’s a rather dismissive attitude for someone in the information business.”

“I can’t know the hidden emotions that aren’t documented as information.”

“I see.”

“If you want to know what the other party is thinking, you’ll have to speak to them directly.”

Diona had a point.

“If that’s the case… do you think it’s possible to arrange a meeting between Hatsune-san and her grandfather?”

“There’s no need to overthink it. Why not just go visit him? If it’s Ichigaya Hatsune-san, she should be able to manage that.”

“But they haven’t met until now.”

“True. At least it’s not something that you or I should interfere with using our supernatural abilities. Of course, if necessary, I’m willing to lend a hand, but I will expect appropriate compensation.”

“…”

I could only guess what she might demand in return.

That concern lingered, but perhaps it was best to view this matter as a family issue. Considering that, I felt it might be wise not to get too deeply involved. My role should be limited to assisting Hatsune-san.

(Well, I already feel like I’ve gotten too involved…)

I felt a slight twinge of guilt about gathering information in a place where Hatsune-san wasn’t present.

“Well, if there’s a time for your skills or strength to come into play, it will be during the aftermath,” Diona remarked.

“Aftermath…?”

“Anyway, I’ll continue my search for Ichigaya Hatsune-san’s parents.”

Diona didn’t answer my question. Instead, she nimbly jumped off the swing and walked away.

***

Once I got home and returned to my room, I decided to contact Hatsune-san immediately. I sent her a message on LINE to see if she was available for a call, and I quickly received a response with a cheerful “OK!” sticker, followed by a video call from her.

“Yakumo-kun, good evening!”

The screen displayed Hatsune-san in a flushed state, having just taken a bath.

Ah, right. Hatsune-san usually takes her bath around this time.