nhp | (Sutamai) 'Wanted: Him! Dangerous Night and Sweet Seduction', Part 5

48.

-Host Club-

Imaoji & Miyase: Greetings Princess, and welcome to “Swallow”.

Marie: Oh my, I’m being received by new faces today.

Miyase: Pleased to meet you. I’m Miya.

Imaoji: …… The name’s SHUN.

Owner: Today’s the White Day event.

And as an important person to “Swallow” especially, we’d sincerely love for you to by all means enjoy yourself, Princess Marie.

We’ve chosen for you some distinguished hosts from amongst our selection in next month’s unveiling.

Marie: Goodness me, that’s quite the thoughtful consideration. I do love new encounters. Thank you, Owner.

Now then, who will escort me to my seat?

Yui: May I have this honor?

Marie: Oh my, you’re…… ahaha, absolutely delectable.

The queen entwined her hand around Yui-san’s arm then made her way to the sofas at the centre of the club and sat down.

Yui: May I address you as Marie-san?

Marie: Yes, of course. And your name is?

Yui: I would be delighted by whatever name you call me.

But if I may put in a request, then I ask that you refer to me as Kou, the Seeker of Love.

[T/N: Yui’s host name is a play on words as well as being a pun, but I’ve decided to simplify it down instead.]

Rei: (That name’s really something else……)

Kirishima: The heck? Ain’t it clashing with mine?

-Storage Room-

Aoyama: Were you the one who came up with Kotaro’s host name, Natsume?

Natsume: If it were me, I would’ve chosen something much better.

Seki: Then that means Yui decided on the “seeker of love” for himself……

Kujo: …… Seeker of love……

Kaname: Huh? Kujo-san…… are you laughing?

Kujo: ………… No.

…… Pfft.

Kaname: You’re shaking with laughter……

-Host Club-

Sugano: Woah, that customer over there gives off the feeling of being used to hosts.

Shiba: Right~

Asagiri: …………

Miyase: We three will be accompanying you for today, Marie-san.

Imaoji: …… Tch. I alone would’ve been good enough.

Yui: We fought over it, you know. To see who could get to keep you to themselves.

Marie: …… Dear me, it sounds like tonight will be a great night~

50.

-Host Club-

Marie: Ew, the champagne spilled and now my hands are all wet~ Someone wipe them for me~

Miyase: Allow me. I beg your pardon, but…… What incredibly beautiful fingers you have.

Marie: No, what a beautiful face you have there. I would love to also see you without a smile on.

Miyase: And…… what sort of expression would that be?

Marie: Ahaha~ Well now…… How about one of extreme desperation?

Or one where you desire something so badly that you lose sight of everything else?

Miyase: What an allusive answer. It’s making my heart beat faster.

But in front of someone as lovely as you, I can only but smile.

Rei: (Miyase-san has the host role down pat.)

(If I had about a billion yen on me, I’d probably end up spending a good portion of it away……)

Marie: Someone fetch me more alcohol~ If anything, I want them to make me drink it~

Imaoji: Do it yourself. I’ll watch.

Marie: Oh my…… Ahaha~ I love that in a man too.

Imaoji: Down it all.

…… And let me see more of that drunk face of yours.

Rei: (Imaoji-san is just as amazing. He might as well have been born into the high-and-mighty race of people, what with that aura……)

Yui: The sight of you bringing the glass to your lips is truly breathtaking, Marie-san.

Marie: Oh my, ahaha~ Go on~

Her Majesty was reveling in great delight at being surrounded by the various different types of hosts.

However—

Rei: (How do we get her to take out the drugs from here on?)

(...... I should really think about what I can do to help as well.)

-Storage Room-

Aoyama: In the past, when Sasaki Marie made the hosts take the drugs, wasn’t she considerably off her face?

Seki: Correct. That’s why we need to induce a certain degree of drunkenness this time too.

Kaname: She seems to be drinking at quite the pace even now though…… She can hold her drink.

-Host Club-

Rei: (In order to get her drunk……)

We have no choice but to keep the drinks coming!!!

Makoto: What’s the matter with you suddenly?

Rei: We’re going to try and force Sasaki Marie to up the amount of alcohol from our end as well!!

Shiba: Then, should I ask for a champagne tower~?

Rei: Er……

Sugano: Excuse me, we’d like a champagne tower over here please!!

I really have no idea, but a million yen’s worth or so will do~!

Rei: !!!

Shindo: …… Order up.

Rei: H-Hold on! Just how much about today’s plans are you all aware of?

Shiba: Of what now? We’re just your average customers~ ♪

Sugano: We won’t interfere with anything, so don’t worry.

Rei: (But a million yen’s worth is……)

Marie: Excuse me!! We want a champagne tower over here as well!!! Some Hennessy too!!

And make haste with putting up all the special Cinderella decorations that I asked to have for White Day!!!!

Rei: (She took the bait hook, line and sinker!!???)

52.

-Host Club-

Kirishima: Reeaaaddyyy, and go!! Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!

Sugano & Shiba: Chug! Chug! Yeah~!

Rei: C-Chug! Chug!

Makoto: …… Chug.

Asagiri: Excuse me? I’m definitely not saying it.

Kirishima: Alriiight!! Now we’re talking!!! WHOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Rei: (Kirishima-san!! That was a perfect champagne call!!!)

Sasaki Marie glared at our table’s commotion with an extremely displeased looking face as she downed her drink.

Marie: Hey!! Let’s get this table buzzing too!!!

Yui: (Are you telling me to…… do a champagne call!??)

-Storage Room-

Natsume: Uh-oh, a champagne call is definitely impossible for either Kotaro-san or Shun-san.

Kaname: That probably goes for Go-san as well.

Kujo: …… Well, I certainly can’t visualize it.

Aoyama: Maybe we should’ve put Kirishima at Sasaki’s table……

Seki: …… No, I think it’s fine.

Natsume & Aoyama: Huh?

-Host Club-

Imaoji: What, you really want that?

Marie: Oh, I……

Imaoji: Are you actually going to make me perform that ridiculous call?

Rei: (The cocky attitude takes the stage!!)

Marie: That’s…… But I asked for something more extravagant than that table, you know~

Miyase: Thank you so much for ordering this wonderful tower for us, Marie-san.

I’m already feeling right now from the bottom of my heart that I wish to marry into your family.

Rei: (??????)

-Storage Room-

Kaname: Go-san’s not making any sense……

Natsume: It looks like it’s completely having an effect on her though.

Kaname: You’re kidding me……

-Host Club-

Marie: …… Well, I guess…… I’m a customer that’s generous to her hosts~

I’ll let you do things however you want. Forget about the champagne call and drink as much as you please.

Miyase: Thank you. You really are too kind.

Imaoji: You keep drinking as well.

Women are lovelier when they’re just about hammered and trashed.

Yui: Let me pour you another one. Come now, slide that glass over.

Rei: (Nice team play, you three!!)

Maybe it was because she had a sense of competition with our table, but Sasaki Marie continued to empty one bottle after another.

And then, the time finally came.

Marie: Aah~ I’m feeling in such a good mood. “Swallow” is the best thing ever.

…… Hey, so, I brought something interesting with me that would go really well with today’s event~

Yui & Imaoji: !!

Miyase: …… Hmm? I’m thoroughly intrigued.

54.

-Storage Room-

Aoyama: Sasaki Marie has taken something out from her bag!

Natsume: Bring it up on the monitor, if you would.

Kaname: I’m doing it right now.

Seki: …… We’ve confirmed something that looks like the bag of drugs. The contents is of a fine, white powder.

Kujo: It’s conclusive then.

Seki: Yes. Let’s bring it in for evaluation.

-Host Club-

Yui: Marie-san? Is that…… what I think it is?

Marie: Ahaha~ If you’re a part of “Swallow” then surely there’s no way that you wouldn’t know of me?

Imaoji: …… Are you trying to ruin me?

Marie: Ah—!

Imaoji-san grabbed Sasaki Marie’s arm and pulled her in closer.

That momentum caused her to drop the bag of drugs from out of her hand.

Miyase: Oh dear, this won’t do at all.

Miyase-san attempted to pick up the bag but ended up tearing the packaging by mistake.

Miyase: Oh no, my apologies! I’ve spoiled your goods.

Marie: How are you going to make it up to me now!!!??

Shindo: Our sincerest apologies. I’ll clean this up right away.

Rei: (Good going!! With this, we’ve got our hands on the powder suspected of being drugs!)

All that remained was to have it examined in the storage room. In the case of a positive reaction, we would be able to swiftly apprehend—

Marie: Stop right there! You’re all working for the Fukuhara Group, aren’t you!!

Rei: (!?)

56.

-Storage Room-

Kaname: —! A large number of people are bursting through the front and back entrance.

Aoyama: Is it the gang of hoodlums!?

-Host Club-

Kirishima: Woah!? Who the hell are you people!??

Male: We got word from Marie-san!!

You shitheads from the Fukuhara Group are trying to snatch the loot!!

Round them all up!!!

Kirishima: I got no idea what you’re on about, but like hell I’ll let you!!

Shindo! Go and do what you need to out back!

Shindo: I’m leaving this place in your hands.

Kirishima: Damn straight!!

The men came striking at us all at once.

Rei: (What the heck’s going on!? Isn’t the Fukuhara Group that bunch of mobsters in control of this area—)

Makoto: Do you really have the luxury of thinking about other things?

Rei: ——!

Makoto-san stepped out in front of me and used his arm to take the blow from the glass that had been thrown my way.

Rei: M-Makoto-san……

Makoto: I’m fine. I’m confirming with the research that I’ve gathered.

This establishment’s glasses are cheap products. I won’t suffer any serious injury from an impact of this level.

Male: GUH!?

Rei: (!?)

To the side of us, a man came charging forth all the while spouting a bloody nose.

Shiba-san laughed nonchalantly as he took up his next fighting stance like he was going to send his opponent flying with a punch (or a kick??)......

Shiba: So the little hoodlums were here after all, huh~

Sugano: Your hunch was right on the money, Shiba-san.

Asagiri: …… I see. So that’s how it was.

Rei: How was what now!?

Aoyama: Explain yourself.

Rei: Aoyama-san!?

Asagiri: I’ll explain later. First things first are these intruders.

Leave the disposal of the gang of hoodlums to us.

Aoyama: What are you saying, deciding that for yourself—

Shiba: Tsukasa! Natsuki! Let’s go with Operation “Bruce Lee”!!

Sugano: Roger that!! HIYAAAH!!!

Asagiri & Aoyama: They make no sense……

Rei: (You’re telling me!!!)

-Storage Room-

Natsume: Seki-san! The results of the evaluation are out. There’s no doubt about it—it’s a dangerous drug alright.

Seki: Very well then, proceed to apprehend Sasaki Marie.

Kaname: The place is in the middle of a brawl at the moment though.

Kujo: Kirishima is in high spirits.

Shindo: He did say that he was building up stress lately from the lack of working out.

Kaname: Oh, Go-san’s also giving it as good as he gets.

…… Hmmm, he’s surprisingly strong.

Shindo: I can accept that Kirishima is used to fighting but Miyase packs quite the punch as well. Every one of his attacks are calculated.

Kujo: …… At this rate, the fight will be settled in no time at all.

It was just as Kujo-san had said through the intercom.

The outcome of the scuffle was a complete victory for the NCD, Kujo Household, and CIU First Division whom had all fought gloriously with Kirishima-san at the lead.

As for Sasaki Marie, who had tried to escape by taking advantage of the chaos…… Makoto-san and I safely took her into custody.

For the time being, the undercover investigation that unravelled from a peculiar team of members approached its close on this night of White Day.

58.

-CIU First Division-

Rei: So you were after the gang of hoodlums that were backing up Sasaki Marie.

And that’s why you had your eyes on “Swallow”?

Asagiri: That’s how the story goes.

The day after White Day, Imaoji-san, Yui-san and I busied ourselves with cleaning up after the case.

Asagiri: To be precise, we were investigating the leader of the gang of hoodlums for the crime of murdering a member of the Fukuhara Group.

Yui: Is disrupting someone else’s onsite investigation how the Police work?

Shiba: Sorry about that. It wasn’t our intention to or anything.

Sugano: In the first place, Sasaki Marie was the lover of the murdered member.

Her drugs were also purchased from him.

But as soon as they broke up, she began buying it directly from the seller within the gang of hoodlums.

Shiba: On top of that, she became lovers with the gang’s leader. What a stick in the mud, right?

Thanks to that, it looked like she was being targeted by the Fukuhara Group.

Her use of the drugs was also reckless, so in the end, it escalated into being a murder case.

Rei: …… The leader of the gang killed that member upon Marie-san’s request……

Shiba: What a smart girl you are, Matori-chan~ ♪

Asagiri: Shu-san, you’re running your mouth against someone of the NCD.

Shiba: Tsukasa is a naughty boy for always picking on the NCD~

Sugano: We thought that you would definitely be against the idea if we told you.

So we kept quiet and dragged you along to the club.

Asagiri: …… There were more efficient methods available rather than appearing as if we took a ride on the NCD’s coattails to bring in the suspect.

Yui: Too late for that. Why don’t you go and eat some fries or something?

Asagiri: Excuse me? You go eat some.

Actually, no, don’t eat any—absolutely never again for the rest of your life.

Yui: Nope. If you tell me not to eat them then I will eat them—tomorrow, and the day after, and every day after that.

Sugano: Are you guys twelve years old or something?

Shiba: Shall I give you both a pat on the head?

Asagiri & Yui: …… No thanks.

Rei: (Such hostility……)

A-Ahaha…… Anyway!! The case is solved so how about we all get along and eat some fries?

Asagiri & Yui: …………

Rei: …… I’m sorry. I misspoke.

Imaoji: Haha. It’s just as Rei-san says. Let’s try and get along as much as possible.

We’ve managed to apprehend Sasaki Marie so it’s case closed.

Of course, we do plan on investigating the gang of hoodlums for being the seller of the drugs from here on out.

When that time comes, we’d be truly grateful to receive the cooperation of everyone in the CIU First Division.

Asagiri: …… We will, without fail, return the deed for upsetting your investigation in some form or other next time.

Imaoji: We look forward to working with you.

Shiba: Well, what we’re after is only the murder charge for the leader himself.

Sugano: But I gotta say, the investigation this time around was plenty entertaining.

We even got to drink delicious champagne out of Shu-san’s pocket money after all.

Rei: What!? That one million yen tower was your shout, Shiba-san!??

Shiba: The higher-ups in the Police are a stingy bunch. They’re just not going to put it down to work expenses~

But that champagne call you participated in had its money’s worth, Matori-chan.

Come out for drinks with the hosts of the Hattori team next time, but as the girl you~ ♪

Sugano: That sounds fun~! Let’s decide the time and date then. When are you free, Rei?

Rei: No, um, that is……

Asagiri: …… Sigh. It’s best if you hurry up and leave before you get caught up in their pace.

Yui: No need to tell me. I was going to leave anyway.

Imaoji: Excuse us.

Shiba & Sugano: Bye bye~ ♪

Rei: (The First Division really is made up of unique people……)

-Downtown-

Yui: Sasaki Marie’s previous workplace was around here, wasn’t it.

Rei: Do you think they’ll respond to our questioning?

Imaoji: I think it’ll be okay so long as we have Yui-san’s host-like smile.

Yui: Don’t remind me……

???: U-Um……

Rei: ?

Oh! Isagi-kun!

60.

-Downtown-

Hosho: I-I’m sorry…… that I stopped you to talk…… I-I was worried about you, Izumi-san……

Rei: Huh? Did something happen?

Imaoji & Yui: ?

Hosho: T-The other day…… I-I saw you entering a h-host club……

Rei: Err.

Hosho: I-I know…… it’s none of my business……… but I was worried.

I-I’m so s-sorry that s-someone like me is i-intruding into your p-private life……

I-I’ll take my leave now then!!

Rei: Hey, wait, Isagi-kun—!!!

………… I-I’m being totally misunderstood.

Imaoji: Haha. I wonder if he sees you as someone who plays around with hosts.

Yui: How fascinating.

Rei: I wish you wouldn’t find this amusing……

As I thought about clearing up the misunderstanding on Isagi-kun’s end as soon as possible, we began walking once again.

Yui: Izumi, I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a while now, but……

Rei: Shoot.

Yui: If you were to visit a host club, then who would you request between myself and Imaoji-kun?

Imaoji: Oh, I’m quite curious about that too.

Rei: Come again???

Yui: Then how about this?

The chosen one has the right to give Izumi the White Day present.

Imaoji: Very well then. It’s a special present that everyone came up with and prepared after all.

Yui: That settles it. Who will you choose, Izumi?

Rei: Nope, nuh-uh, no way!!

I’m happy that you went out of your way and got me a present, really! Thanks!!

But…… If it’s a present that everyone prepared then as a representative, it really should be Seki-san—

Yui: Are you saying that you want Seki-san more than you want me?

Rei: Huh?

Imaoji: Am I really no good?

Rei: Wha…… What the heck!? What’s with this sudden turn of events like out of a romance drama!!???

I-I can’t choose!!!!

-Kujo Household-

Miyase: Hm?

Kaname: What’s wrong, Go-san?

Shindo: Did something happen?

Miyase: No…… It felt like I could hear Izumi-san’s voice just now.

Kujo: Perhaps you’re hearing things in anticipation of your plans to meet up after this.

Miyase: Haha. That may be it.

Kirishima: Kujo-san! I’m done with packing the present for Rei into the car!

Kaname: Huh? A present for Onee-san?

Miyase: We decided that we would gift her a White Day present from all of us.

Seeing as she went as far as to disguise herself as a male in the undercover investigation this time.

Shindo: By the way, it’s something that we chose after grabbing your opinion as well.

Kaname: My opinion?

Shindo: We got a not half-bad input from you that time back when we were chatting about what Izumi would want.

Kaname: …… Do you mean when we were talking about what Onee-san would be happy to receive if someone were to pick it out for her?

Kirishima: That’s the one!

Kaname: You went ahead and…… Well, whatever.

Miyase: Haha. Izumi-san is familiar with many people.

She may already be accepting a large number of presents from others as well.

Kujo: Ours is something that we chose with careful consideration for her sake. It’s simply unthinkable for it to be inferior to anyone else’s.

Kirishima: Yeah! M’kay then! I’m heading over there now so wait for me, Rei!!

* * *

White Day is an event for maidens to remind themselves of the warmth that thaws the snow.

At the same time, it might also be a season for the storms of spring to rage in the form of romance……?