Charles Patricius

Miko's reactions were... strange, without a doubt. Her reaction to Sosuke's curiosity implied a lack of fault. He could assume the two weren't dating by that reaction alone, but there were so many other causes for speculation. Why would he ask that question? The reasons were numerous. "Do you really want to know the reason?" he wondered. Sosuke could easily provide a mountain of evidence for his accusations, but this was no trial... or was it?

Well, it was undoubtedly a questioning. Miko claimed this Kazuhiko boy was one of her besties. That was fine and all, but stranger still was her parents' ignorance of the brunette male's identity. "One we've never met or heard of?" he questioned right away. Miko did take pictures with all of her 'besties' in this way. On the other hand, it was strange to acknowledge a best friend previously unheard of for one who had such close ties with her existing best friends. "There are some oddities about this situation, Mimi. No need to be shy. If you're seeing someone, your parents have every reason to be curious. So, what is it? Someone you're interested in and taking... unusual pictures with?"

Did Miko need to know why her father thought there was something more to that one set of pictures? Kind of, she could make assumptions but in truth she was simply treating all of her 'besties' with the same level of affection. "Well, I didn't make any assumptions about it..." she said truthfully. There was nothing to her putting that set of pictures up aside from claiming another of her besties. "Hm, I think we start with the fact that you don't post pictures of your other male 'bestie'," her mother said with a cheeky smirk. "Well, that is different. He's my musical soulmate and I don't post pictures of us together for safety and NDA reasons. But we still take selfies together," Miko admitted. They might not have been shown but she did take pictures with the other boy who was one of her favorite people. As for her father's other question, it was an odd one to answer, "Well, it would be easier to say our friendship in this case was long distance... not something to really talk about in the same way as everyone else," she explained. That was the truth as far as this world understood it. It would get really difficult to explain that she'd spent 300 years in Kazuhiko's company while neither of them could say their own names. Ah, what about that last question, was he someone she was interested in and took unusual pictures with? The technical answer to that question was yes. "It's not about being shy... " she explained, though she was still furiously blushing.

At the same time, Kaguya was receiving a series of text messages from the phone of a very specific person. It would seem that Miko's early morning picture taking had called the attention of a certain group. A blonde girl was laying in bed sending a series of text to Kaguya's phone which were getting answered immediately. After a brief exchange, Kaguya found herself looking at the pictures posted by Miko and chuckled. Sending one final message. "No, we aren't trying to get you fired. We just ended up doing something odd. Just call the emergency meeting I am sure we aren't trying to keep answering questions separately." And that was all. Ai, for the sake of making sure everyone else was included had sent messages to both Kei and Chika to make sure that they were ready for the coming call. It would take just a moment to get together. And then, before Miko had to finish that conversation, four pictures were popping up on her phone, with a notification that said... EMERGENCY MEETING. "Uh...Emergency Meeting, I have to take this. Gomen." she said as her phone lit up. 'THANK YOU SEIMEI!~' she prayed happily standing up to walk off for that particular video call. "Emergency meeting?" Rita questioned.

Meanwhile, a certain meeting at the Diamond Hotel and Casino was coming to an end. A set of three young blonde women with basically identical faces were standing together. One had blazing green eyes and a frown on her face, she was dressed in a black suit with a black shirt and tie. The taller one with more platinum blonde hair was wearing a black suit with a white shirt and black tie seemingly amused. While the last member, with long blonde locks braided in a large ponytail down her back was sitting around in a black dress with high splits seemingly very happy with bright blue eyes full of light and happiness. "So we've got time, we're going to the convention!" she said happily. The green eyed one took a deep breath and exhaled, her brow twitching slightly. "Fine."

It seemed there would finally be a proper answer to the curiosities about Miko's... questionable dating situation. Unfortunately, there would instead be timely salvation from Miko's friends in one of their infamous emergency meetings. How convenient. Given the blush on Miko's face prior to that sudden call, he figured the answer was pretty obvious. Of course... he also figured an actual answer would no longer be coming his way, much to the man's disappointment. "Hai. Take your call," he said with a gentle sigh. As Miko walked off, her newfound aunt questioned the term 'emergency meeting'. He supposed that was normal, given the lack of any context whatsoever. "Mimi and her friends have group calls they call emergency meetings. I think it comes from a video game or something. It's normally a pretty big deal," he said.

Meanwhile, that trio of similar faces was not alone when exiting their meeting. One Daikichi Hiruko moved along with them, hearing one mention a convention... just for another to agree without argument. "That took no convincing. Keep that leash tight, Emicchi~" he joked in typical lighthearted fashion. For the young woman who obviously had no personal interest in visiting a convention, however, he bent at the waist, leaning toward her ear to whisper. "It's a bit low-brow, but I know a contract that might be fun for you. They're likely to show up. Want it?♥" he asked, willing to make a deal. In that very moment, the green-haired male known as Kusanagi walked past the group with a few words to share. "If you're trading work in our prefecture, you'll have to see Makima. She has the records."

Miko was saved by the proverbial bell and allowed to take her phone call with her dad heaving a light sigh of disappointment. Risa couldn't help but chuckle as he explained to her sister the 'Emergency Meeting'. Rita heard that out and it sounded a bit like the panicked roommate gatherings of her youth. Perhaps nothing really changed from generation to generation...not where it mattered. "Sou ka, kids are interesting..." she said. "I think it's more interesting that we aren't the only one's out of the loop. What else could an Emergency Meeting be about at this point?" Risa said. "I mean, simply speculating, of course~" she said happy her daughter was making choices and at the very least she'd chosen someone else drop-dead gorgeous. All of her friends were lookers of the highest order if nothing else. At the same time a call was now filled with voices. "Who called an emergency meeting?" she asked. Only to be confronted by a specifically calm and mature voice. "I did, but you two basically self-reported. Mi-tan and Kaya-tan are sus. Are you two trying to get me fired?" asked one Hayasaka Ai, a blonde girl, fully buxom wearing nothing but a shirt and underwear as she hadn't even bothered getting up out of bed yet. Immediately after another voice would be heard, "Forget about the travel, Mi-sen's sus because who is that guy? And why is he so hot? I mean, it's not like I'm interested or anything but she should have said something before posting him with the besties! What are we chopped liver or something?!" claimed one Shirogane Kei, a white haired girl with startling blue eyes who was also the younger sister of Shirogane Miyuki. She was sitting at her desk. Finally another voice was heard immediately, "Mi-chama's secret boyfriend has been identified. Everyone owes me money!~" this was the voice of Chika. Soon after Kaguya would finally say something. "Oya? We're all just jumping on Mi-chan today? Give her a second to process she'd answer all questions. For my part in this, we got drafted to do a thing for the Ashikaga Consulting Agency... it wasn't something we could talk about so we left. Don't worry too much!~" claimed Kaguya. "Take your time, Mi-chan♥!~" Kaguya said in her typically flirty fashion.

Meanwhile a certain meeting was coming to an end, and there was commentary to one Emi about keeping a tight leash on the green-eyed individual. It had taken no convincing to get her sister to agree to attending a convention, but many things didn't take much convincing. "I don't think it works like that... but I won't let her do anything too crazy!" Emi confirmed as if amused. Still as that same young man walked up to the green eyed young woman she cut her eyes at him. Hoshimi Eri was a lot of things and murderous was at the top of the list. Though she was quite the softie when it came to her younger sister and her family in general she still didn't actually like the idea of attending that convention. "If I am going to be here that long... absolutely. That convention is going to push me over the edge anyway, but I will go if she wants me to," Eri said. "If you're going to be that way about it, you can't be such a hardass about everything else~" the older one finally said. "As if you would have said no," Eri followed up immediately. Just the same some words were spoken by the green haired lad she knew as Kusanagi. A frown came at the mention of Makima, but that wasn't her problem. "You take care of that end though... text me when you have the details. Bonus points if I can feel good about the job completion," Eri said. Just the same, a pink haired girl was accompanying the green haired boy. She'd changed clothes and was wearing a simple hoodie, black cap and a pair of shorts and sneakers. She looked oddly comfortable but this had been one of the most stressful afternoons of her life.

"I hardly have a clue," Sosuke said about the nature of this emergency meeting. He could make some assumptions, but nothing beyond speculation. "If I had to hazard a guess, I would say it's either about this disappearance that we only heard about from Animusphere-kun, or... this mysterious boy we've never heard of, despite how frequently Mimi's friends are around. One of those two things would be my first guess, the latter since it's so strange I've never heard this boy's name," Sosuke rambled. Another sigh passed his lips then. For a parent the likes of Iino Sosuke, it was a mark of failure to be so very uninformed. Everything was obviously fine, as they could all confirm with their eyes... but a few things remained questionable for different reasons.

Hiruko firmly believed Hoshimi Emi held the reins of her family. Even the most unruly of them had always been easily swayed by their youngest's words and actions. Even with that being the case, the shorter and more murderous one got no enjoyment from the idea of attending a convention. She did, however, like the sound of a contract during said convention visit. "It's just a week, Ericchi, but no worries. I'll send you over the details later tonight," he agreed without divulging his own end of the deal just yet. Given their history, something would easily work out. Alas, there was one thing that wouldn't happen; he wouldn't be the one dealing with the one called Makima. "Not happening. I've got a personal cleanup gig to take care of while I'm here. No time for pacifying that one; gomen♥~" he said, looking toward Kusanagi thereafter. "Yocchi, got me covered? I got your info, after all," the blonde male said slyly, much to Kusanagi's chagrin. "Fine. If it doesn't get in the way of our current targets, I'll meet with her. Speaking of targets... come on," the green-haired male said to his apparent companion. Hiruko looked her way as well, wondering how permanent this one would be. "Oh, and you... If Yocchi doesn't turn you into a psychopath, the Diamond has a place for your type. Got my number?"

It seemed that the parents were discussing the potential of that emergency call. In Rita's opinion the answer was simple. "I've met her other friend and I wasn't quite sure what to make of them together. Given this... I figure the call is about everything. If I was calling my roommates a few years back, it would have been about everything..." Rita said. Risa gave it a bit of thought. "Good point, I also had that problem with those two," Risa mentioned knowing that she'd once walked in on a very intense looking exchange between Shinomiya Kaguya and Miko. Whatever the case, that emergency meeting was being passed over to Miko but Ai would speak first. "You two are not to go out alone until I get there... you hear me!" she claimed. "Too late. Anyway, I'm taking these claims in reverse order... something can't be a secret if I posted it, Chi-chan. I don't have a secret boyfriend..." she said first and foremost. The words of Kei hit her ears specifically in an odd way so she'd be addressed next. "You don't get to question my friend after complaining about my list you crybaby psycho," Miko said about that. "Oi, that isn't fair. This is an actual person, not just some old guy from history or mythology that you like the sound of, but I'm so not interested. It's just weird 'cause you didn't say anything about him. If he's yours just say so... " Kei claimed. Ai looked into the screen and frowned. "Seriously, you two can't be trusted out on your own. Kaya-tan looks sloshed. You look like you're about to have a panic attack and you both are cities away with no explanation. Also, agreeing with Kei-tan, that guy is hot. If he's not your boyfriend, why are you kissing his face?" she asked of her friend. "I kiss all of your faces. This isn't weird." Miko claimed. "Yeah, Mi-chama does kiss us all, but she did stop licking our faces. The love detective thinks your new beau might not be fond of all the public lesbian affection you give us and that's why you stopped!" Chika held up a hand as if she'd cracked some great case. While Kaguya was listening she was practically giggly. "Oi you aren't off the hook either Kaya-nee! Have you been drinking without me?! I mean... I'm not mad or anything but you could have at least called if you were going to have that type of fun," she claimed. "Eh? Well, I am a bit drunk but that was a thing that happened last night. No worries. Also... news... I broke up with Shirogane so, yeah that's a thing." she added which made the group clamor harder, except for Miko who already knew. At the same time, Angelica was looking at the girl on her phone and wondering about it. She'd moved a bit and was now peeking into the screen. "What's that?" she asked, the sounds of sex in the background being drowned out.

Meanwhile an odd group were talking about jobs and downtime. Only a week one Hiruko said about the timing, but he didn't understand, for a person like Eri a week was a long time to potentially be annoyed by someone. "Just a week, where I am not allowed to do my job. Yes... just a week. I'll be waiting for them," she said as if that explained her stance and she was prepared to get her work listing. But dealing with the one called Makima wasn't something that Hiruko would be doing, he placed it off on one of Makima's actual people. Good, Eri didn't want to deal with that woman either. "Well as long as it isn't me," she said carefully. That pink haired girl seemed to be apt to keep her head out and stay out of any unnecessary conversation. Imagine her surprise when she was about to walk away and that blonde man spoke to her of avoiding becoming a psychopath and some potential place around the diamond. "I'm just trying to get through the next few days, with my life but..." she gave the man a quick once over. She'd been talking about not being able to find what she was looking for. Too confident was this one, too sure in his offers. Too playful around gorgeous women, her eyes traversed him and she nodded. "I'll take your number though..." she said willing to quickly exchange the information before catching up with Kusanagi since they had something to do.

Eri did not appear satisfied at all with this turn of events. Hiruko understood her plight. She had a love for her work, and a distaste for the mundane aspects of everyday life. "I know, I know. Tell you what? While you're staying here, use my tab and enjoy the games. I always said you'd be a hell of a gambler," he suggested. Perhaps a few games at the casino would help the young woman break from the duller side of this trip. As for the matter of dealing with Makima, Kyo seemed neither pleased nor displeased with the idea. He didn't care who he interacted with, so long as it didn't interfere with his plans. If things didn't align... Makima would just have to deal with not knowing. Oh, maybe that would cause an incident between families and open a few more opportunities? That was a fun idea, Kusanagi thought. "Emicchi, his face is showing. Mind keeping tabs on whether that's done or not?" Hiruko wondered.

As for the stranger recently introduced by Kusanagi, it seemed she was in the earlier days. It had been mentioned for the sake of everyone at the meeting who she was, and what she'd come from. Her current mental state made a great deal of sense, but based on the way she looked during the meeting... she was going to be more than fine in the end. Her acceptance of his offer was for, rather exclusively, Hiruko's phone number. Ah... that didn't seem like an acceptance of work, but rather an appraisal he was all too familiar with. Kusanagi knew this as well; he'd spent far too much time watching her face this past 24 or so hours. "Aven-ya is hopeless. Still... it's a good choice. She's one of us," Kusanagi said while looking toward one Hoshimi Rie, whom he knew had some interesting dealings with Hiruko. "That so? Well..." Hiruko muttered while looking over the woman in question. "You look fit for the beach, and that's where I'm going. Give me a call?" he suggested while wearing a sparkling grin ─ one that could almost be trademarked. At the same time, he was enabling his own phone for a contact exchange.

The Emergency Meeting between friends would be continuing for a few minutes more, Kei's words and Kaguya's confession were things worth addressing. Kaguya's break up would come first. "I knew that dumbass was gonna fuck this up. Ugh! Well, good for you... tossing his ass. He didn't deserve you, Kaya-nee! Not that I'm bothered or anything," she said quickly making Kaguya giggle. "Hai hai, I know you love me more. No worries, you're the only Shirogane I'll associate with♥!~" Kaguya flirted causing a blush to appear on Kei's face. Miko saw Angelica. "Oh? Something's afoot. How's the pretty girl. Are y'all hanging out with Europeans now?" asked Chika who seemed to be on the case. "First. This is going to require a lot more than a single emergency meeting. Second, that is Angelica and she's a friend involved with the thing we're doing. Third all you belong to me. Don't act like you've forgotten. I'll do what I want with all of you!" Miko said finally. "Does that include me. I mean I wasn't just trying to include myself or anything... I mean it just seems like it could be cool or something," Angelica managed in tsundere fashion, causing Kei's eyes to light up as she found a kindred spirit. "Yes that includes you Princess, no arguments!" claimed Miko who was currently on a tirade and oddly really happy to see her friends on her screen. Each of them she absolutely adored and all of them would be receiving thorough respect or disrespect at her earliest convenience. "I mean, for a midget you're being really demanding, Mi-sen. It isn't like we want to belong to you or anything like that..." she offered in her usual way. "I mean, y'all are all being extra weird about this, but whatever. Wait until I am there to watch you before you do anything too crazy." claimed Ai. "Hai hai, as the little empress commands. I'll get back to everyone when we have more time to talk, Mi-chan is with her parents and we have some stuff to do. Since everyone is barking over her new bestie, I'll make sure to put in a good word for everyone yeah?" offered Kaguya. "We should probably switch to text so she can keep up the rest of her work." finished Kaguya who was tying up the meeting. "Hai." said Kei. "Alright." said Ai. and then Chika had one more thing to say, "I know this is a mystery and the love detective is on it. Wait until a real meeting can happen!" she exclaimed before all the phone lines went off.

While teen girls made plans a different young woman was busy being made an offer. A man who didn't seem too bothered by her standoffish demeanor was content to allow her to gamble within this facility on his tab while he was away. "Sou ka, I'll take you up on that. I think could go for a few hands of poker or blackjack," Eri said seeming to be mildly interested. From the outside perspective that pink haired girl wasn't sure what the little one's deal was, but was certain she was absolutely a killer with a very short leash and maybe even a shorter fuse. Whatever the case, talk of Kusanagi's face showing had her eyes shifting and Eri's as well. They both looked at him and given what Hiruko said a small upturn of Eri's lips and pure murder appeared in her eyes as well. "I'll keep an eye on it. Also, Eri-nee I know what you're thinking. Stop it." she offered making the emptiness leave the green eyed girl's face. "What? I just thought it might be fun," she said calmly. Ah, but that wasn't all, according to Kusanagi, the man he called Aven-ya was hopeless, but a good choice. And he claimed that Princess had a certain amount in common with them. "Sou, freaky." she mentioned and shrugged it off completely. "Maybe, I'm on the clock for two more days... but I was planning a beach trip among some other things," she said her eyes cutting at Kusanagi. This whole room and all of these people were nerve wracking in different ways, but apparently this is where all the good dicks were hiding and she wasn't going to turn one down knowing this crazy man was going to keep being crazy. Information exchanged, Hiruko would be the first person to see this girl's real name attached to her phone number, Shikomori Sarumi.

"Hai hai. We'll probably see each other at both tables when I get back," Hiruko said to Eri, knowing he'd only be away at the beach for a few days of their total week here. Apart from a few visits to some new associates, he'd probably be spending all of his time at the newly-named Diamond Casino. Regardless, he now had confirmation that an exchange of contracts would work out. Difficult though it was to trust Kusanagi with getting something non-murderous done, Hoshimi Emi had always been a trustworthy individual in all regards. "Arigatou, Emicchi!♥ I'll thank you later?" he asked with an upward inflection and a cheeky wink. Quick to move on, Hiruko found himself looking at the true name of that pink-haired woman. "Shikomori?" he nearly whispered, curiously. There was something familiar about that name. Ah... it connected to his earlier findings on one of the current jobs. Hers may have been a name connected to something far bigger. No way was he opening that can of worms before other things were handled. "Sou ka. Well, let me know. I'll have a spot you should be able to crash at if needed. Anyone else who wants may be invited too. That goes double for you, Riecchi♥~" he added. "Until then, I'm off for a few days. Ericchi, I'll be in touch tonight with the details and... well, anything else that interests you~"

They would likely run into each other when he returned. Eri knew that this man was a gambler by his own nature and that it would make him at least worthwhile company while she played. Though she didn't register anything off about him, she always found the way he spoke to women to be odd. But... it wasn't her business to understand his leanings. "Hai, drinks are on you too," she said knowing that if she was going to be gambling a bit of drinking would likely wind up on her list as well. Moving on, a shameless flirt was sent towards Emi as well, who simply waved him off as she always did, fully understanding this man's nature. "It's not a big deal, send me a bottle or something instead," she mentioned fully willing to not catch the kind of pitch this man was giving. He moved quickly as well, going back to address Princess as she was generally known. "Hai hai, I'll probably see you around. I might want to do some shopping first," the last of the blondes mentioned. She knew what this man was like and had no qualms. She figured her sisters might want to take a go at something good for the sake of setting standards but knew one of them wouldn't be interested much at all. "Hai," Princess said giving a shrug, if nothing else a couple days at the beach would be fun after everything else. Eri for her part in this heard his last words and nodded. "Hai... I'll be waiting," she said about work only. She had no real concept of his flirting, but had know Hiruko long enough to know a certain thing. Even so, after he walked off her little sister and elder sister felt the need to clarify. "He was flirting with you..." Emi said noting lack of anything resembling a normal reaction to his words. "He talks like that to women," Eri clarified why she took nothing he said personally. "Attractive women. His type is attractive women, like us~" Rie said. "Whatever." That was all Hoshimi Eri had to say giving an incline of her head to her younger sister and a similar nod to Kusanagi and his pink haired 'friend' before following Emi and Rie out of this and towards their own room. "Freaky," Princess said before following Kusanagi wherever it was they were going today.

At the same time, a hospital across town was finally getting a certain visitor. A brown haired girl had abandoned glasses for contacts and pigtails for free flowing locks. She was currently dressed in a pair of shorts and an oversized sweater which hung off her shoulders and was pushed up her sleeves. She carried with her a small bag with dvds, a snuggie and snacks and fully intended to spend an afternoon watching tv with a certain black haired boy who'd been the recent victim of a traffic accident. She'd make her way to his door and take a few deep breaths. "Kurusu-kun, how's it going today? I hope there's been no more incidents, with heavy machinery. I brought stuff to watch and snacks!~" she joked lightly.