Chapter 484: Logistics |
After everyone had calmed down, settled in, had some food and generally relaxed, Hottie spoke up and said, "Nominally, this is a formal get together to welcome Lore into the group. But since we're here, it's also a meeting to sort out logistics."
Lore let out a sigh of relief at that. "Logistics..." He adjusted his glasses. "Yes. Logistics I can do."
Sofa reached up and glanced at her fingernails before saying, "What logistics do we even need to discuss still?" She looked over at Hottie. "Unless something came up?"
"Yes." Hottie nodded and looked at Orca, Foxy, and Gomi-kun-
Actually, no.
Gomi-kun was confusing.
Trash.
Yep. Hottie was calling him Trash. Flowed better on the tongue.
But in any case...
Orca hummed, rubbing his hand against his chin. "I'm independently wealthy, so I can go anywhere, whenever. But I should pop back home every two weeks or so to show my face at my parents' house so they don't think I've disappeared somewhere."
Foxy gave a thumbs up and said, "I'm a streamer, so I just need a headsup on when we go! Then I'll just arrange my content ahead of time!"
As for StraightGarbage, aka Trash, aka Gomi-kun...
He frowned and said, "I'm TECHNICALLY free. But my sister will flip a tit if I just disappear without letting her know. She's paranoid like that... and stalkerish too. Did I tell you about the time she found one of Foxy's hairs on my clothes and then grilled me for a week straight about one-night stands and proper safety?"
Foxy turned a bright red.
Lore groaned and said, "...Please tell me not every meeting is like this."
Hottie sighed and just slid Lore a bottle of sake. "...You get used to it."
Lore sighed as well and poured himself a shot, downing it in one go.
Knight hummed and said, "So it appears that we will all be able to go at a moment's notice if needed, yes, Hottie?"
"Seems like it. Then it's just ACTUAL logistics. Do we want to fly together, or meet at the destination?" Hottie pointed at himself, Knight, and Sofa. "We usually fly together. ...Mostly because I am VERY concerned about what those two do when together without my supervision."
Knight let out a boisterous laugh and said, "That is true!" He clapped a hand on Hottie's shoulder and said, "My brother here ensures I remain on the true path of Alfi-sama by not falling into carnal lust."
"...To translate," Hottie said. "When Knight is alone, he constantly gets women coming up to him and feeling him up."
Sofa chuckled. "And I so do have a habit of networking... perhaps a bit too thoroughly at times..."
"...And to translate for Sofa, she gets blackmail. Like, actual blackmail." Hottie sighed. "Honestly. You would think that someone as pure as Alfi-sama would have the most wholesome fanbase. But the Alfis are all... Well. 'Eccentric' would be putting it nicely."
Orca chuckled. "They are indeed very wholesome, Hottie. Just... simply directed towards Alfi-sama. The Ki-sama are different. Aoko's fans... well, we're all very toxic towards her, but in general we're all nice people. As far as I've seen, at least."
Foxy nodded. "Yep! I haven't met one of Aoko's fans who aren't amazing and wholesome in person! And I heard that's true for Hope-chan too!"
Hottie paused. "Hope-chan?"
"Eh? Ah!" Foxy quickly covered her lips. "You didn't hear anything!"
Trash-
No. That was throwing Hottie off now...
'Just stick to the basics, I guess.'
StraightGarbage groaned and said, "Foxy. Aoko told us NOT to spill the beans to anyone. Even staff..."
"But Hope-chan is sooooo wholesome! And nice! And like, a person who's the best cinnamon roll in existence! She's like a fluffy blue sky with clouds rolled up into a cute girl!"
Hottie pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "I will pretend I didn't hear anything. Back to the main issue... transportation. Group or individual?"
Orca hummed. "Well, I'll likely be flying on my own. As for these two." He nodded towards Foxy and StraightGarbage. "Don't worry. I'll send them off as a package deal. It's pretty clear they're tying the knot soon anyway."
Foxy blushed. "W-We're not doing that!"
StraightGarbage coughed. "Y-Yeah! I'm not marrying Foxy!"
Foxy had denied it, but the moment StraightGarbage said that, she visibly flinched, her hand drifting down for just a bit to her stomach.
StraightGarbage froze.
Orca's eyes widened.
And Hottie clapped his hands. "Alright. That's it. Everyone out. I've hit my drama quota for the day. You, Lore. With me. You're the only sensible one here. Tonight, we chat about your lore. We need to sort out Alfi-sama's history."
Lore flinched and adjusted his glasses. "Y-Yes?"
"Good." Hottie stood up and said, "Dismissed."
After that, he quickly left the sushi restaurant before he could hear or witness anything else that would ruin his day.
'Goddamn it, I need another drink- No. Not a drink. Screw it. I'm going to Akiba and getting a disgustingly large over the top milkshake to drink by myself. Forget the calorie count today, I need to treat myself for all of this drama...'
===
Yuri stared at the little baby girl in her arms. The one with blonde hair and sparkling green eyes. The one with chubby cheeks, small hands, and an adorable smile... who was also reaching out to pat Yuri's cheek at that very moment.
"Bubi!"
Yuri closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. "My name is Yuri, Rory. And no, I can't give you milk. That's not how this works..."
The Smith family household in Kichijoji. Specifically, their suburban home with a nice lawn, white picket fence, walk-out porch, and all around peaceful home.
After a complicated chain of events, running down the babysitter list, and numerous phone calls...
Yuri ended up being the designated babysitter for baby Aurora for the day.
John was apparently overdue for spending time with his adoptive daughters(?) Xuan and Wu, so he was out with them.
Yue had to deal with administrative work due to Meggie's suspension as well as the bullying sensation with Emma. Administrative work which apparently included some male high schoolers confessing that they were asked to do VERY illegal things to the poor girl, which meant that Chi-chan's dad, Takashi-san, had to call in his old friends at the district chief's office to come in and do a full investigation.
Which meant that school was cancelled for the day.
Which, of course, meant that all the other girls in Prodigy had immediately set up guerilla streams to have a sliding spot open to hang out with Hope later in the week.
As for Alphy and Asako... Nope. Those two were out with some attorneys today discussing the legal ramifications of getting married in Japan versus overseas and whether ceremonies there would transfer.
Titor and Amadeus? Considering they had their own baby to deal with, no dice.
Jenny?
She was apparently on a day trip with Gray and his family to get better acquainted with them.
And by day trip, that meant a distant island where they were all deepsea diving.
Meggie?
No dice, too young. And she was also hanging out with Emma for moral support.
John's sisters?
Overseas to apparently retrieve some belongings from their houses.
John's father-in-law, aka, Aurora's actual grandpa?
Gone back home for the week. Also overseas.
Rin?
...Honestly, could not be trusted with Aurora. She might actually refuse to give Aurora back.
Miss Betty?
Due to getting inspired, she had gone no contact for a deepdive into creativity, holing herself up somewhere in some hotel to get work done.
In fact, the only other person free to help keep an eye on Aurora right now...
"Bope!" Aurora reached out to the side, just as a young woman walked in.
"Sorry I'm late!" Hope took off her shoes and slid the door shut behind her. "It took me a little bit to figure out how to navigate the train station... Googol Maps is super handy though!"
Yuri let out a sigh of relief. "No worries. I'm just happy to not be alone keeping an eye on Rory."
Aurora giggled and then nuzzled against Yuri's chest. "Buwi!"
Yuri blinked. Then she sighed, a soft smile on her face. "Better. It's Yuri."
"Wuwi?"
"Yuri."
"Wuwi!"
Yuri sighed.