Today is Mountain Day. While many adults seem to be starting their Obon holidays with this national holiday, the Seed Distribution Office remains open.
Summoned at 10 AM, I was immediately bewildered upon entering the room. It's oddly dim—only the desk where Ohno-san sits at the back has a light on. The atmosphere feels off.
"Good morning, Kido Chifumi-kun. I've been waiting for you."
What's with this tone? Ohno-san has his elbows propped on the desk, hands clasped in front of his face. With white gloves and thick sunglasses, he looks like some kind of commander.
"Good morning. The seed distribution is scheduled for this afternoon, right? What's going on?"
"Hmm. There's something I need to tell you. Two pieces of good news and one piece of bad news."
"What's that about? And can't you just talk normally?"
As I stood there confused, Hibiki-chan quietly approached and whispered in my ear.
"The director's been hyped about doing this since morning. It's annoying, but just play along for a bit. He'll get bored soon anyway."
Ugh, what a pain. Is this guy a child?
"Director Ohno. What is this about?"
"Hmm. Let's start with the good news."
"Please."
"That matter about Tatemiya Nanami you asked me to look into—we've finally tracked her down."
"Wait, really?!"
This is genuinely good news. Ohno-san actually looked into it properly.
"Of course. Our agency's investigation is never wrong."
"That's—that's great! So, where is Tatemiya now?"
"Now, now, don't rush. Listen first. Takeda-kun, the documents, please."
"Yes, Director-General."
"Hmm, good work. Uh… what's this? I can't read it."
"Director-General, with all due respect, it might be the sunglasses."
"Oh, you're right. I can read it now. Sorry about that, Takeda-san."
I couldn't help but burst out laughing. What kind of farce is this?
"Ah, this kind of thing really doesn't suit me. Let's just drop it."
At that signal, Takeda-san started opening the blinds. What was that all about? Are civil servants allowed to mess around like this during work hours?
"See? Told you so."
Hibiki-chan whispered in my ear again.
"Anyway, please continue, Ohno-san."
"Ah, sorry, sorry. So, to cut to the chase—Nanami-chan has a father."
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah, yeah. But this 'father' is a bit of a problem. He's a big shot, and for some reason, he's got Nanami-chan under wraps."
"What kind of reason—?"
"We're still investigating the details, but for now, that's all we know. Still, she's under parental protection, so at least we don't have to worry about her safety."
"Can I contact Nanami? I really need to talk to her."
"Hmm… and that's where the bad news comes in. There's absolutely no way to reach her."
"That can't be!"
"Her phone's been disconnected, her ISP account deleted—right now, there's zero means of communication with her. Even if you call her house, it's a complete dead end. And she probably isn't even at her father's place to begin with. My guess is Nanami-chan herself has no way to contact the outside world either."
"That's… that's practically confinement! Shouldn't we report this to the police—?"
"Nanami-chan is still a minor. As long as her biological father is protecting her, the police can't intervene."
"But… wait, what about her mother? Nanami's aunt?"
"Her mother's been sick for a long time, apparently. Right now, she's at a care facility in Shikoku, but since her father's the one handling her care, there might've been some arrangement there. Though that's just speculation."
"That's… Shikoku? Were Nanami's parents divorced?"
"They were never married to begin with. Her father was already married when he got involved with her mother, who was a college student at the time. Nanami-chan is what you'd call a 'child out of wedlock.'"
"I had no idea… Nanami probably didn't either. That she even had a father…"
"Well, at least we know she's safe, even if we don't know her exact whereabouts. So, one good news and one bad news—let's leave it at that for now. We'll keep investigating."
"…Understood. Thank you… Wait, wasn't there another piece of good news?"
"Ah, about today's recipient… You can refuse if you want. Actually, you should refuse."
"Director! You can't say that!"
"Ah, sorry, Takeda-san. Let me rephrase. Ahem. 'Today's recipient~, even if you refuse~, I won't be mad at all~.' Of course, the decision is entirely up to Chifumi-kun~."
"What's that about? Am I supposed to refuse?"
"I never said that~."
Then, flames seemed to ignite in Ohno-san's eyes.
"It's just that today's recipient is a vile, rotten woman, so I'm worried about how well you'll get along, Chifumi-kun~. After all the men she's been through, now she suddenly wants a child? What nerve~, that's what I personally think~."
"Is today's recipient someone you know, Ohno-san?"
"Call it a cursed connection. I don't even want to see her face."
What the hell is this? Ohno-san was the one who initially tried to get with me too—how can she trash-talk someone like that? Is it some kind of rivalry? But what should I do? If I don't refuse, Ohno-san might get mad, but Takeda-san's been giving me this 'don't you dare refuse' look…
"Well, in the end, it's up to you, Chifumi-kun. Just know that if you get involved, be prepared—she's really awful. Oh, and her breasts are big, but they're implants!"
"Director, that's going too far. Chifumi-kun, the recipient has gone through a rigorous selection process. So unless you absolutely can't, please do your best to accommodate her."
I'm exhausted before the seed distribution even starts. Ohno-san treated me to lunch, but I barely had an appetite.
"Rough day, huh, Chifumi-kun? Today, I'll be the one escorting you to the recipient."
"Huh? It's usually Ohno-san, but today it's… Keyaki-san?"
"The director really doesn't want to meet her. So I'm going instead. Oh, and this is totally unrelated, but… could you start calling me 'Hibiki-chan' soon?"
"Eh? But Keyaki-san is my senior…"
"I don't like my last name, you see. So I'd rather you call me by my first name."
"Come on… Keyaki-san is fine, isn't it?"
"..."
"K-Ke… Hibiki-san."
"..."
"Hibiki-chan."
"Yes? What is it, Chifumi-kun~♡"
Ugh, this one's a pain too. Seriously, she wants a guy eleven years her junior to call her with "-chan"?
"So, about today's recipient… is she really that bad with Ohno-san?"
"Hmm, I don't know the details, but they're the same age and joined Kasumigaseki as part of the same cohort."
"Wow, really?"
"Apparently, they used to be really close. Like, birds of a feather? They were always together, even got selected as part of Kasumigaseki's 'Lustful Seven' or something."
What the hell is the 'Lustful Seven'…? Are the bureaucrats in this country okay? …Wait, Ohno-san has the nerve to say 'after all the men she's been through' when she's no different.
"So, is this person also a bureaucrat at the Ministry of Health?"
"She's with the National Police Agency. Made police superintendent at 31, so she's definitely exceptional. There's even talk she might be the first female Commissioner General in the agency's history."
"Wow. So the recipient's a police officer?"
"I haven't interacted with her much, but she's pretty scary. Maybe it's easier to say she's the director's former partner."
I'm getting more and more scared…
"Th-this is the meeting place?"
"Yep. It has to be this love hotel, apparently."
"Are high schoolers even allowed in love hotels?"
"No worries~♡ The Ministry of Health got official permission. When it comes to seed distribution, the law is pretty flexible."
"Sigh… Well, here I go…"
With Hibiki-chan seeing me off, I drag my heavy feet toward the room. I've got nothing but bad vibes about this.
"Excuse me… I'm the seed distributor, Kido Chifumi…"
The room beyond the heavy door is nothing like the love hotel I imagined. Dark decor in red and black, filled with equipment I've never seen before. There's an iron grate at the back and what looks like a crucifixion stand against the wall. What is this place? It's like a torture chamber!
"Finally arrived, have you? I am Hachisu Claire. You shall address me as Claire-sama."
Who is this person? She's completely out there…
Her face is beautiful—distinct double eyelids, slightly droopy eyes, a straight nose, and elegant lips. Her skin is porcelain white, undeniably gorgeous. But her expression is tense, radiating a cool aura that keeps men at a distance.
What's insane is her outfit. Knee-high black leather boots, elbow-length gloves, fishnet stockings, black garters, and a bustier covered in jingling chains—a perfect bondage look. And, uh… why are her breasts completely exposed?
Today's recipient—Claire-sama—flicks the whip in her hand with a whoosh, then points it at the floor. Is she telling me to come here?
"In this room, you are a pig! Now—kneel!"