nhp | (Sutamai) 'Wanted: Him! Dangerous Night and Sweet Seduction', Part 1

EVENT STORY INDEX

With March saw the coming of spring all at once.

Having overcome winter, the cherry blossom trees lining the streets begin to give off color in their young buds.

But here in Japan, before the petals of spring have even spread open, the flowers of love are blooming all around.

—March 14th.

Marshmallows—Candy—Cookies.

Pour all your feelings into the sweet confectionery.

And for the people who mustered up their courage on Valentine’s Day in particular……

This day is considered to be one which thaws that pure white snow.

* * *

-Downtown-

Rei: White Day, huh……

What caught my eye on the way back to the office was the new billboard on the building.

Without meaning to, a lifeless sound escaped my lips at the “Happy White Day” words in the cutesy font.

This year’s March 14th fell on a Wednesday.

I could easily see myself vigorously working, free of any love or romance and whatnot to be had.

???: U-Um……

Rei: Yes? Oh, Isagi-kun!

Hosho: G-Good afternoon. U-Um…… I’m sorry. Someone like me is t-talking to you……

Rei: Ahaha. It’s not something you need to apologize over though. We just happened to bump into each other, right?

Hosho: Y-Yes. It really was just a coincidence……

Ah, b-but to come across someone like me even by chance, I-I’m so s-sorry……

Rei: (Isagi-kun’s the same as always, I see.)

-Downtown-

Rei: How was class today?

Hosho: Ah, it was… suddenly cancelled……

Rei: Oh, okay. Are you out shopping then?

Hosho: N-No…… T-That is…………… I’m chasing after a swallow.

Rei: A swallow?

Hosho: Y-Yes…… It’s a little bit early in the season for them to be building their nest, but after spotting the swallow……

I thought that I could maybe watch it collect the twigs in real time.

So I followed after it in a daze…… A-And then there you were, Izumi-san.

Rei: (That’s very like him to do…… But…)

Where is the swallow?

Hosho: Ah, c-come to think of it……

Just as he came close to looking ghastly, a bird swiftly and gracefully flew past behind him.

Rei: ! Behind you, Isagi-kun! Look behind!!

Hosho: Huh? Ah…… T-The swallow from before……

Rei: You don’t have to mind me so go on and chase after it!!

Hosho: T-Thank you.

U-Um, I-I’m sorry…… Even though I was the one to suddenly call out to you, I had nothing to offer as conversation……

Rei: It’s fine, I’m not hung up about that at all. More importantly, you better hurry before you completely lose sight of it again!

Hosho: O-Okay. P-Please excuse me.

Rei: (Woah…… His legs really are super fast.)

I broke into a smile at the chance encounter brought about by the swallow of early spring.

And after tearing my gaze away from the advertisements cashing in on the White Day sales war, I lightly went on walking.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Rei: I’m back—

Imaoji: Greetings, Your Highness.

Rei: (!?)

Yui: I’ve been waiting for you, my princess.

Rei: P-Princess??

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Kagura: Hold up, can’t you give a sexier reaction? You’re being rude towards my tour de force.

Rei: Kagura-san! Oh! That’s why—yeah, okay!!

So you came after all.

Kagura: Excuse me? You’re the one who gave me a strange call sounding like you were on the verge of death.

Something about please turning your co-workers into hosts, I believe.

That’s right. It all happened several days ago…...

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Rei: The Queen of Kabukicho?

Kujo: That’s what she’s known as. I wish to request for the NCD to investigate her.

What Kujo-san had brought forth with him as he abruptly paid us a visit was an unbelievable case.

Miyase: Her Majesty is the ace customer for all the hosts at the club “Swallow”.

Aoyama: The ace customer?

Natsume: Oh, I saw that on TV the other day.

Doesn’t it refer to the top customer who spends the absolute most money on their assigned host?

Rei: Ooh! Yeah, I saw that as well. It was a documentary on hosts.

Natsume: Yep, that one. It covered pretty harsh stuff so it was interesting to watch~

But wait, isn’t what’s meant by a “top customer” is that it’s one person per host?

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Rei: You’re right. The documentary did say that…

With host clubs, there’s generally a system in place where you’re designated the one host forever in order to avoid scuffles between fellow hosts.

Imaoji: Well, well. They’ve got an efficient structure set up there.

Aoyama: So in other words, it’s impossible for the queen alone to be the top customer for all the hosts.

Natsume: That’s what it comes down to.

Kujo: She has an organized gang of hoodlums backing her up.

Miyase: Strictly speaking, she uses her corrupt authority and wealth to turn the impossible into possible, and then fools around at the club.

Natsume: Woah, what a turn-off.

Aoyama: And? Is there any word of drugs between the hedonistic queen and this host club?

The fact that the matter was brought to our attention must mean it to be so.

Seki: Could it be that this woman they call “Queen”......

Does she go by the real name of “Sasaki Marie”?

Miyase: Unsurprisingly, the NCD’s section chief picks up information fast.

Rei: (......?)

Seki: I see. So the unpleasant rumors about her held truth to them.

Imaoji: Though it’s not much, I also managed to gather some intel.

There’s talk of a customer that turns the host of their fancy into a junkie, then proceeds to monopolize them. And when they’re sick of them, they cast them aside……

Miyase: Quite correct you are. It appears that Her Majesty is rather heartless.

Kujo: If you’re aware of her existence then this speeds things up.

The owner of “Swallow” is an acquaintance of mine and he’s already had three of his hosts rendered invalid.

10.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Miyase: We hope to prevent any more casualties than this.

So we’ve come here to seek your approval for an undercover investigation.

Rei: Huh?

Kujo: We’re simply making headway to the best of our abilities, and without going around in circles in order to forestall the number of victims.

Yui: …………

Seki: …… I’m unable to give you an answer right here as of this moment.

However, we do not wish to have another victim on top of this as well.

We’ll pursue the matter and contact you afterwards. How does that sound?

Kujo: Very well.

I’ll say this in advance then.

You will agree to also have the Kujo Household stationed within the club on the day of infiltration.

Yui: Denied. There’s no way that we’d permit a bunch of amateurs to run amok at the scene of the crime.

Miyase: It’s a condition set out by the owner.

I believe his words were, “I can’t trust the narcs one hundred percent”.

Imaoji: That’s quite the greeting he’s giving us.

Miyase: Do rest at ease. For I and everyone else will thoroughly prove to be useful.

As a start, here.

Miyase-san then placed a brown envelope of standard paper size on top of the desk.

Kujo: Inside it contains information pertaining to Sasaki Marie. I look forward to hearing a favorable response from you.

If, in the case that we do not receive your approval for the undercover investigation……

Then we intend to dispose of the queen on our own terms.

Seki: …………

Kujo: Should you cooperate with us, then we shall also uphold our morals as law-abiding citizens.

Miyase: Now, if you’ll excuse us.