As the three huddled together, gazes fixed on the open folder, silence settled over them.
"Hm…"
All three hummed in unison, each with a bead of sweat sliding down the side of their face.
"The orchestra selection is approaching," Mira said, breaking the quiet.
"These applications must be reviewed immediately…"
She paused, her eyes shifting sideways toward Makoto, irritation evident in her expression.
"If it weren't for the House Director slacking off so much…" she muttered under her breath.
Makoto promptly turned his head away, carefully avoiding her glare.
Watching the exchange, Yukie closed her eyes and let out a quiet sigh.
—
Rewinding to the moment Mira had first arrived- She was drenched in sweat, the interior of the opera house eerily silent.
"M-Mr… Shirogane…" she whispered between labored breaths.
She began walking forward slowly. Her upper face was cast in shadow, her scarf covering the lower half, her expression completely obscured as she approached the two.
Upon reaching them, she leaned in toward Makoto. Her right hand lifted, then settled firmly onto his shoulder. The grip was unnecessarily heavy, tight enough to crumple his suit.
"Mira…?"
Makoto called, glancing at her hand.
Silence.
Then-
"Mr… Shirogane…"
Her voice was low, her head still lowered, face unseen.
"Do you have any idea how much preparation lies ahead for the Opera House?" she continued in a hushed tone. "For your information, esteemed Director… this is the most renowned and revered opera house in the entire nation. And yet, your attention has been elsewhere- rather than on the events and directories that demand it…"
Then she lifted her head.
"What the heck have you been doing, House Director?"
she whispered again, eyes now widened, dread etched into her expression, as though something gravely wrong had occurred.
Seeing her face, a bead of sweat formed at the side of Makoto's head. His eyes widened slightly, quietly, but genuinely unsettled.
"Mira…?"
he asked once more.
Beside him, Yukie watched with a faintly surprised expression.
Kiss X Reaper
Chapter 10: Star Stanza
"She is quite fierce for an assistant, treating Shirogane-boy like that,"
Yukie thought as Mira completely went off, lecturing Makoto without pause. In Yukie's mind, the scene almost cartooned itself,
Mira reduced to a tiny, chibi-like figure stomping about, faint puffs of steam rising from her head, while Makoto appeared just as small, eyes squinted shut, silently accepting every word thrown his way.
Returning to the present,
Yukie rested her face against her palm,
her elbow propped to support her posture.
"Still… considering how many projects this grand venue handles-"
she thought, her gaze drifting briefly toward the towering interior of the opera house.
She glanced back at the two.
Mira continued her tirade with the authority of a manager scolding a negligent employee, while Makoto endured it with practiced restraint.
"…It makes sense," Yukie murmured softly, concluding her internal monologue and flashback.
"What, precisely, is this Theater's Encore?" Yukie asked without preamble, her hand extending calmly toward them as she voiced her curiosity.
At her question, Mira first glanced sideways at Yukie, then turned both her head and body to face her, "Oh—right. But wait,"
she added casually, narrowing her eyes, "what exactly is Ms. Ruckus-Causing Lady doing here anyway?"
Behind Yukie's head, an invisible red irritation symbol practically flared.
"…Excuse me," Yukie muttered under her breath, clearly displeased.
Ignoring the tension, Mira continued, her tone shifting into explanation.
"The Theater's Encore is the grand ceremony commemorating the Grand Opera House's twenty-fifth anniversary. It's an event held every five years, where the most renowned orchestras, exceptional performances, and distinguished figures gather under one roof. It is a celebration of art, legacy, and prestige- one that holds great significance not only for this venue, but for the city itself."
As she spoke, vivid images seemed to unfold, chandeliers blazing with light, the opera house adorned in brilliance, performers taking the stage, couples dancing beneath golden glow, and glamorous applause filling the hall all embodying the spirit of the Theater's Encore.
"It was established by my father before his passing," Makoto followed calmly.
"Yeah- the presumed man we've never even seen," Mira muttered under her breath, skepticism lacing her tone.
A bead of sweat formed at Makoto's temple. "Well… he was a mysterious man,"
"Alright, we get it. Mysterious and all," Mira cut in, waving a dismissive hand, her expression utterly unconvinced.
"…Right."
Makoto appeared like a shrunked, pale figure with vacant white eyes, his assistant's casual dismissal echoing in his mind.
"But yes," Mira continued, exhaling tiredly, "that's precisely why we need to review these directory applicants immediately. Before tomorrow. And there are…"
She glanced at the stack on the side of the table "…hundreds of them."
Hearing this, Yukie stepped closer to the table, her gaze returning to the folder.
"I may have appeared… troublesome earlier," she said evenly, "b
ut I have already obtained what I sought. And as formally as required, I am capable of handling business affairs. After all, I have lived for a thousand--"
Snap!
Her words were cut short as Makoto snapped his fingers.
"Right. Let's get to work,"
he declared casually.
Mira maintained her exhausted stare. Yukie, composed as ever, turned her eyes toward him. Both paused.
"…Right!" Mira suddenly exclaimed, clenching her fist and striking it into her open palm. "Let's get to work!"
As the scene slowly pulled away from the office and drifted beyond the windows, the first light of dawn crept across the city.
Morning was arriving.
"Tling."
A small bell chimed as the glass door opened smoothly.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Shirogane. We have been expecting your presence. Please, make yourselves comfortable."
The woman in a barista's uniform bowed politely toward Makoto and Yukie.
Makoto remained standing for a moment- his left hand tucked into his pocket, his right holding the cane upright, before taking his seat.
Once settled, it became evident that they were inside a café. There were no other patrons in sight besides the two of them.
The interior was refined yet calming, dressed in white and light blue hues that gave the space a clean, gentle atmosphere.
"I must inquire," Yukie said, her tone composed and formal as she glanced around the empty café, "what manner of establishment is this? There appears to be no customers present aside from ourselves."
"I reserved the entire place," Makoto replied simply, a pen resting between his fingers as he looked down at the open folder in his right hand. "I contacted them much earlier. I wanted some peace."
"Reserved it in advance…" Yukie repeated softly. She turned her gaze back to him.
"Does that mean you also own this establishment?"
"Mhm," Makoto responded without looking up, his attention still fixed on the contents of the folder.
"I see," she replied calmly.
"Managing multiple establishments is… a most strategic endeavor. I find myself wondering just how many more he possesses--"
"I own roughly thirty more, give or take," Makoto interjected suddenly, cutting cleanly through her unspoken thoughts. "Along with several connections and contracts with major companies worldwide. It tends to be… surprising when the reveal happens, especially when we're already inside one."
Hearing this, Yukie simply closed her eyes, a faint, amused smile forming on her lips as she acknowledged the unexpected disclosure.
Without warning, Makoto slid the folder across the table toward her. It glided smoothly, turning upright as it came to a stop before her, the contents perfectly visible.
Her eyes opened, settling on the title.
"Star Stanza," Makoto said casually.
"The orchestra we've officially selected as the first candidate. We'll hold and test them first- see whether their melody and harmony can withstand a project of this scale."
Yukie did not respond immediately. She lifted the folder and began reading through the contents in silence.
Moments later, the same barista from earlier approached, carefully setting their drinks down. A latte for Makoto, a cup of hot chocolate for Yukie. She bowed briefly before stepping away.
"Hm. I did find something interesting," Makoto continued, lifting his latte and taking a measured sip.
"These performers have quite a history of mischief. It's been reported- at the very least, observed that the cities they visit often suffer civilian casualties after their performances. There's no direct evidence tying them to any crimes, but…" He set the cup down. "Their presence seems to attract something… supernatural."
"Is that so?" Yukie replied evenly. She placed the folder down and took a sip of her hot chocolate, her eyes closing briefly in thought. "Most intriguing."
After a pause, she lowered the cup onto its saucer. Her expression sharpened, composure intact but intent clear.
"However, there is something I wish to inquire about further," she said.
"Would you be so kind as to explain to me the Armament Arts system in greater detail? I believe, there are much more than what you've previously explained."
Chapter Ends!