Amagi Brilliant Park: Volume 6
Page 8
Seiya used his magic a third time. <
Seiya had forgotten the old man’s name. He looked down at the profile on his phone: it was Hojo Ichiro. Good, no problem.
“I don’t know... what you’re talking about,” Hojo said slowly, attempting to keep his calm.
But Seiya kept pushing him. “Is that so? I know you have no interest in the pocket change itself. I wonder how much a consultancy comes with. The yearly salary would be, let’s see...”
He used his magic. This was the fourth time. <<20 million yen. Does he know about that, even? Did he hire a detective? No, a detective couldn’t know...>>
This time, Seiya forgot his first meeting with Hojo Ichiro. That wouldn’t be on his profile, but he’d detailed the meeting in his log book on the cloud. No problem. Seiya tried to shake him down even more. “If it got out that you were selling out your own park for 20 million yen a year... it wouldn’t sound very good, would it? The fact that Cosmic Studios would be coming to Amagi would be big news, after all.”
“Are... Are you all right? You’re throwing around a lot of false accusations...” The fact that he’d guessed the exact number seemed to have the old man badly shaken.
Seiya glared at Hojo daringly. “That’s not all I know about you. I know even more...”
He used his magic. This was the fifth time. <
Seiya forgot what the man looked like. He remembered knowing a man named Hojo Ichiro, but the memory of his appearance had slipped out of his memory. A sense of disorientation assailed him, as he suddenly found himself talking to an old man he’d never seen before. He felt like he was going mad. A sense of vertigo overtook him, but Seiya gritted his teeth and told himself, The old man in front of you must be Hojo Ichiro. You can’t be sure, but it has to be him. Get a grip. Nail this guy to the wall!
What was more important was what he’d just learned from his thoughts. A bid from Qatar? That was probably from his time as a government official... That was probably a long time ago, so he’d set it aside. It was those names, Marina and Takuya, that interested him. Especially Takuya... That was a man’s name, and seemed to be someone he cared about very much. A mistress and a love child, perhaps?
“I know... All kinds of things.” Seiya was hesitant to use his magic any further, so he decided to switch to leading questions. “It must be very hard on you, having Takuya-san out there. Hmm... Kazuki-kun. Does your grandson know about it?”
“Damn you! That’s enough!” At last, Hojo exploded in rage. He looked like he might even charge Seiya with the golf club. His shout carried across the practice range, causing the other golfers to stop in the middle of their swings. Realizing that everyone was looking at him, Hojo lowered his club, trembling. “...What do you want? Did you come here to threaten me?”
“Threaten you?” Seiya’s head hurt. He was so sick of resorting to dirty tactics, but he felt no qualms about breaking this old man.
How much suffering had this man’s actions caused him? How much suffering had he caused the people of the park? Right now, Moffle and the others would be in the middle of their evening show. They spent every day and every night performing. Even when they were exhausted, they smiled and did everything they could to entertain the guests. And here was this man, playing a leisurely round of golf. He didn’t deserve mercy.
Yes, let’s finish this here and now, Seiya decided. “Yes,” he told Hojo, “I am threatening you.”
“How dare you...”
“Withdraw the three million condition,” Seiya said coldly.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“If you don’t, I’ll reveal everything. I’ll put it all out there, at the time that will hurt you the most— about the consultancy, about Qatar, about Takuya-san.”
“......” Hojo was dumbstruck.
“I’ll say this one more time: Withdraw the three million person condition.”
“I can’t!” the old man squealed. “It’s not that simple! We’d need to change the agreement with Malmart, and—”
“No, I think it is that simple,” Seiya told him coldly. “Do it.” Hojo couldn’t hide how badly shaken he was now. He stole a glance at the other golfers, who had gone back to their practices.
Is it time to start playing on his compassion? Seiya wondered. Do you know how desperate the people of AmaBri are? Do you understand how hard they’re working? Do you realize the joy that they bring to their guests? You’re the only one who can save them!
But before Seiya could make the hard sell, Hojo began speaking, in fits and starts. “First... do you mind if I... make a call?”
“To whom?”
“Er... to Kurayama-san... This discretion... isn’t mine alone.”
Is that the man in charge of Cosmic Studios? he wondered. Seiya didn’t know what kind of man he was, or the nature of their agreement, but Hojo would probably call him the moment Seiya left the course, either way. It would be better, then, to let them talk where he could see it. “Go ahead,” he told Hojo. “Just keep it short, please.”
“A-All right...” Hojo pulled out his feature phone and dialed. As it rang, he kept casting glances in Seiya’s direction. It was like he perceived Seiya as a monster.
Go ahead and think as long as you like, Seiya thought. But I won’t let you get away. If you try anything on me, I’ll keep using my magic. I’ll use it as many times as it takes, and sink my teeth into your neck...
“Ah... Kurayama-san. Are you free? ...Yes. Yes. I’ve run into... a bit of trouble... Yes. ...Er, it’s about the... land deal... and the three million attendance condition. I’m not sure we can go through with it now... er?” Hojo’s brow furrowed. “Ah... I see. I’m with a boy named Kanie-kun... Yes? Ah... what? And... that’s all I have to say? I... I see.” Hojo removed the phone from his ear, looking at Seiya uncomfortably.
“What is it?”
“Ah... well... He wants me to pass on a message... though I don’t know what it means, exactly...”
“A message?”
Hojo proceeded, weakly and hesitantly, “Ah... he said... ‘it must have been hard crawling along the fence at the stadium’...”
The message caused the world around Seiya to go black. Stadium? Crawling along the fence? He knew exactly what it meant. Three months ago at Kajinomoto Stadium, he’d rigged up the circuit boards to cause a fire. It was a highly illegal act he’d taken to prolong the park’s life. No one had gotten hurt, but it was still arson. It was a felony.
In order to get into the stadium to make it happen, Seiya had had to spend an hour crawling his way across an eight meter tall fence. That was probably what “Kurayama” was alluding to— and he was doing it in a way that left Hojo in the dark.
The message, then, was clear. If you don’t want me spilling the news about the arson, lay off of Hojo, it said.
“......” Seiya held his hand out to Hojo.
“What is it?” the old man asked.
“Your phone. Give it to me.” He half-snatched the phone away. Making a gesture to stay where he was, Seiya walked away from the old man. “Who are you?” He had an idea, but he asked anyway.
“Well, well. It’s been a while, Kanie Seiya-kun,” “Kurayama” responded over the phone. The voice was different, but he knew that slightly mocking tone.
“Kurisu?”
“Correct. And how have you been?”
“Drop the act,” Seiya told him flatly. “What the hell is this?”
“Hahaha. I thought this might happen, you see... so I told him that if any member of AmaBri staff started making unreasonable demands, that he should call me right away.”
Of course. How well-p
repared of him. He had known in advance that Seiya would try to threaten Hojo.
“It’s easy to imagine what you were talking about with the old man,” Kurisu said pleasantly. “Well... it’s a good opportunity, so why don’t we talk things out, you and me?”
“Fine. Where are you now?” Seiya was in a mood to run there immediately.
“Ah, not tonight,” Kurisu declined.
“What?” Seiya was surprised.
“I have a few plans for tonight. How about tomorrow? Yes... perhaps Amagi Bridge, at nine o’clock PM.”
“Fine,” Seiya agreed shortly.
“Goodbye.” The other man hung up.
Hojo looked at him fearfully— at a “child” like him. Seiya almost told him to grow a pair.
“So?” Hojo asked nervously. “What did he say?”
“Forget it all.” Seiya threw the phone at Hojo. The old man rushed to catch it, juggled it a bit, but in the end, dropped it on the ground.
“Excuse me,” Seiya said, then left.
Seiya didn’t get much sleep that night. He commuted to the park the next morning, but Isuzu wasn’t in the office. He was about to call her to confirm some work details, but before he could, she called him.
“Sento,” he said into the phone. “Where are you now?”
“Maple Castle. I’m with Her Highness.” Her voice was tense; that alone was enough to get Seiya worried.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well... something strange has happened,” she hedged.
“What?” he demanded. “Out with it already.”
“The... The Princess’s memory has...”
“What?”
“Please, just come quickly.” Isuzu hung up.
Seiya didn’t need to be told twice; he rushed to Maple Castle. As he entered Latifah’s room, he found her sitting in her usual parlor chair, Isuzu by her side. Everything seemed fine at a glance.
“Latifah?” he asked cautiously.
A shiver ran through her, and then she spoke. “Isuzu-san. Ah... would this be Kanie Seiya-sama?”
“...Yes.”
Seiya was dumbstruck. Perhaps noting his reaction, Latifah continued apologetically. “Forgive me, Kanie-sama. I am told that you have done a great deal for the park and for me. But my memory... ah... it appears to be gone...”
AmaBri No. 2 Building, Studio 1
Chujo Shiina here, making a confession: I don’t know how I ended up in the idol unit(?), Task Force ABC.
I understand why Kanie-senpai strong-armed me into recording a single of the park’s theme song (which is different from having consented to it). I’m honored that people want to buy my songs, but at the time—that time—he let me stay credited as Part-Timer C. And now, for some reason, I’ve been put in with Adachi Eiko-san and Bando Biino-san to form a three-person idol unit kind of thing... I really wish I knew how things went off the rails!
Well, there are a few things I’ll admit to. For one, I do find wearing frilly stage outfits (that show off my belly button!), and singing flirtatiously, with a charming smile, to be a valuable experience. When my mother first heard about it, her nostrils flared and she proclaimed, “Shiina, do your best!”
I’m a woman; a girl, like any other. I’d be lying if I said I never wondered what it would be like to join the glamorous world of show business. But... but still... Having videos of me singing and dancing in skimpy outfits on the Internet makes me very nervous! What would I say to the people at school if they found out? Actually, I think maybe they have found out... When I’m walking down the halls at school, I sometimes see people pointing and looking at me! I saw a boy from another class comparing me to something on his smartphone, too. It’s all very strange for someone whose default mode is under-the-radar. I wish someone would just come up and ask me directly! Then at least I’d have a chance to explain myself! I never meant for this to happen! I never wanted to flit around like an idol! I never had any delusions of grandeur! I just felt so bad for the people at the park that I had to say yes!
But when I told Eiko-san and Biino-san about how I felt, they just said, “That’s truly wonderful,” and, “You’re awesome, Shiina-chan!” respectively. I guess that when I mentioned that people were talking about me at school, they thought I was bragging or something.
That’s right... Eiko-san and Biino-san, the other members of Task Force ABC, are much better at rolling with life’s punches, and they always see the glass as half full. I’m the one who’s always pessimistic and hesitant.
“Um, um, it’s really a problem!” I insisted.
But Biino-san just grinned in response. “I bet it would be!” she said. “All of a sudden, you’re a big star at your school!”
That’s not what I meant!
“I bet that boy who looked at you had a crush on you!” Biino suggested slyly. “What does he look like? Was he handsome?”
He wasn’t handsome at all. He had a crew cut and glasses and he was very plain. He wasn’t exactly gross, but he wasn’t handsome either. “Um, just normal...” I told her.
“You’re so lucky! There are a few girls in the industry at my school! You know Kosaka Tomino?”
“Um, not very well...”
“Oh, yeah? Apparently she’s really popular these days...” Biino sighed. “I don’t stand out at all, in comparison! Ahaha!”
I truly envied Biino-san. She went to another school in the same city, and it was famous for its pretty girls (or at least, its girls who made a flashy impression). Biino-san was cheerful and nice, and I personally think she’s much prettier than I am... So if she didn’t stand out there, her school must really be something!
Biino-san turned the subject to Eiko-san, who up until that point had just been smiling and listening. “What about you, Eiko-san? Have people at your college been talking?”
“Ah, not particularly... I have done similar work in the past, after all. But one of my professors did tell me, ‘It’s good of you to do work that will bring comfort to lonely men. Do your best.’”
“I... I see...” The professor must have been influenced by the “AV issue.” I wonder if people think I’m part of some sexy group, too... So embarrassing!
“Wow, he sounds really nice!” Biino-san said, her own eyes shining. She was such a kind person.
“Woffle... er, Moffle-san is late, isn’t he?” I suddenly realized. It was morning, and we were in the studio in the No. 2 Building. It was summer vacation, so I was working full time days, and we were scheduled to practice a new song. But Moffle-san, who was supposed to come by to teach us, hadn’t shown up yet. We were supposed to meet up at 9:00 AM, but it was already fifteen past, which was very strange, since Moffle-san was a very punctual person.
“Hey! Everybody here, ron?!” Just then, Macaron-san burst into the studio. He was a sheep-like mascot, woolly and soft. Eiko-san said that he was very handsome in his human form, but as I had never seen it, I found it very hard to imagine.
“Macaron-san...” Eiko-san’s expression brightened. I had never seen her react that way before.
What? Is it possible? It’s not possible, right? Excuse me; I must be getting the wrong idea. Macaron-san is a two-heads-tall sheep. He’s also a former delinquent and a very tough customer...
“Moffle’s taking off today for urgent business, ron,” he told us.
“Urgent... business?” Eiko asked.
“Yeah. I didn’t ask what it was about, but I’m betting on ‘hangover,’ ron.”
“Ahh...”
Macaron-san seemed very unconcerned about it. He passed out the sheet music he’d brought, and went over minor modifications to the lyrics and the melody. “That should cover the singing, ron. I don’t really do choreography, so I brought a substitute instructor for Moffle, ron.”
“A substitute instructor?” I questioned.
Macaron turned to the studio door and shouted, “Instructor! Instructor! Come on in, ron!”
“Coming on iiiiin!” In bounded our instructor. It was t
he Spirit of Wind Sylphie, a dancer with Aquario. Shouting in some kind of foreign language, Sylphie whirled and twirled. Her dance moves were truly impressive!
“The bursting smell of melon! Cure Eagle!” she shouted as she capped it off with a strange, squatting pose. “Well, what pose is that?” she asked.
“Huh?”
“What pose?” she demanded to know. “Three, two, one...”
“C-Cure Eagle?” I guessed.
“Bzzt! The answer is Sylphie Pose! Your punishment is 500 radio calisthenics!”
“What?!” I cried.
Sylphie shot me a wink and a giggle. “But today’s Windsday, so I’ll forgive you!”
“What’s Windsday?” I asked. Today was Tuesday.
“Windsday is whenever I am! Come on, everyone, let’s do our best!”
None of it made any sense. While we stared at her in confusion, Macaron-san strode for the door. “I’ll be going now, ron. Sylphie’s the best dancer we have, so give her your full attention, ron.”
“Um, um...” I tried to object.
“Okay, lesson one!” Sylphie sang out. “The history of dance!”
“Um.”
“The history of dance does not date back to the third century BC when Hannibal of Carthage crossed the Alps!”
“Um.”
“Lesson two! The fundamentals of dance!”
“Um.”
“Do not mix wasabi into soy sauce; put it on the sushi! That gives it more aroma!”
“Um.”
“Lesson three, the rules of dance!”
“Um.”
“Don’t feel! Think!”
“Um.”
3: Out of the Tunnel
Latifah had lost her memory of everything up until yesterday.
Seiya was so stunned that he’d been forced to leave most of the questioning to Isuzu, who explained that Latifah had reverted back to the state she always did on the first of April—in other words, the same “early 14” she’d been repeating for over ten years. She didn’t remember Isuzu, or what she was doing in the park.
Latifah was a fundamentally intelligent and forthright girl, so despite her shock, she was able to take in everything that Isuzu explained to her. And yet, she didn’t remember Seiya at all.