/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>46643496
>>46643516
>>46643529
That's the Suzu all wrapped up and ready for the Keine finale. I'm holding off on doing the hand-off of information Kosuzu gathered from the HSE until after that. I'm not planning on the Job Squad learning everything, but probably enough to give them a bit of an edge.

>>46459794
If there’s one thing top say about the HSE, at least they knew how to keep things presentable, lack of door besides. The clean elegant waiting room not betraying at all that it was part of a whorehouse. I saw that kitsune servant of Yukari’s-Ran wasn’t it?- manning the desk again. I already had my plan in mind. I approached the desk and straightened my spine so I could stand to my full height. Which wasn’t much compared to her, but still. “Hello again. I’m here to see if any of my services are needed. Is Anon available?” I knew that trying to break in would be a mistake. Maybe if I were some kind of master thief I would have a chance, but I would be caught in an instant if I tried anything funny. My only option was to just walk through the front door, exploiting the fact I had a reason to be here. It was so stupid that surely the thought of me being her to subvert them wouldn’t cross their mind. At least, I hoped that.

Ran turned her weary gaze towards me. If she were to see through me and have be dragged away, this would be the moment. “He is currently seeing a client at this moment. He is scheduled for a break afterwards, so I can see if he wishes you see you then”

“Thank you” I go to take a seat in the waiting room, heart thudding in anticipation Some of the clients waiting there briefly looked up at me. Most of them had removed their disguises, freely showing off strange ears and wings, among other features. I suppose they thought nobody would care if they saw. At least there was nobody I recognized. I still silently scolded all of them for having being awful people for going here. As I waited, my mind drifted off into potential avenues of attack. I had hoped to have something by now, but my mind was a blank. I didn’t have much time to think as I noticed a presence right next to me. I jumped, despite myself.

“Anon wishes to see you. You have some time before his next client arrives. You may enter” Ran said before moving back to the desk.

This was it. I moved towards the doors and pushed them open. Going through the main entrance was just as jarring as going through the secret one as I suddenly stepped out on grass, the sun shining down on me. Trying to shake off the uncanny nature of this place, I made my way to the shrine. Drawing near, I saw there was something new. A garden that was teeming with life, despite it being winter. Or was it winter here? Hard to tell. I took a moment to appreciate the beauty of the vibrant life. If I had Akyuu’s poetic streak, I could write about how this represented how life goes on and hope and beauty can be found in even the most dismal of places. But I didn't, so I just enjoyed the view for a while. Stepping into the shrine, I saw Anon sitting down at the table, a cup of tea in hand “Kosuzu, it’s been a while. Good to see you again”

Taking my place opposite him, I notice there was already another cup and a teapot set up. How considerate. I poured myself a cup. “It really has been a while. I have a catalog if you want more books. We’ve got a lot of new stock in, so take a look” I pushed the catalog and pen towards him. He took a few minutes to browse, marking off what he wanted before handing it back. I briefly flip through it. Novels, a guide on gardening and landscaping, a few others. Nothing unusual.

“I saw there was a garden outside, is that yours?” I asked, both out of curiosity and lacking any other conversation starters. It’s not like I could ask him how he’s been lately.

“Oh no, Yuuka made it. She’s amazing at that sort of thing. All I do is go out and tend to it when I have the time”

“Ah, that makes sense. She’s actually very nice, nothing like the stories say”

“You met Yuuka? When was this?” He asked, looking a bit surprised.

“We got to know each other a while back. She’s not that scary when you get to know her” I felt a small tinge of guilt when I thought back to all the awful things I believed about her.

“She does have her charm, doesn’t she?” Anon smiles slightly as he takes a sip of tea. I feel a sudden compulsion to blurt everything out. That a plan to rescue him is being staged and he might be free, that his daughter was molested by the same woman keeping him trapped here, and that he might have enough offspring to rival gods, but I choose to keep my mouth shut. The truth wouldn’t help him much now. As he puts down his tea, an awkward pause seems to fill the air. I couldn’t be the only one with secrets. What sort of pain was he hiding, with all the things he suffered here? I wasn’t too keen on finding out.