An invitation to Inari Kisaragi's birthday party comes one month after mine.
Tokito, me, and Shin are all invited. We go to the hotel they hold the birthday party separately, but we sit together there.
"How are you two?" taking a seat beside me, Shin greets us
"The usual," Tokito, who is also beside me, replies, "How about you?"
"Nothing strange happened," Shin replies casually
"That's good?" giving him a confused smile, I act cheerful while tilting my head at him
Shin chuckles and nods his head, "That's good, that's good,"
Today, besides Inari's birthday present, I also bring along my squirrel doll. Shin definitely takes notice of it. In a teasing way, he asks if we give Inari a doll too.
"Yup! Made by Big Brother!" I cheerfully boast to Shin, despite Tokito's reluctance
"Heee... Make one for me too," Shin requests to Tokito, seemingly in a teasing way
I wonder if he is serious about it.
"Aren't you too mature to get a toy as a present?" smiling without meaning it, Tokito responses without a will to do as Shin requests
"Oh, you just have to use that against me, huh?" rolling his eyes, Shin retracts his requests
I see. Behind my back, something like that was said.
The party starts and the meal is distributed. We are eating at a restaurant within the hotel owned by Inari's Father. The atmosphere is really different to a party held at home.
After Inari cuts the cake, some waiter and waiters distribute them. Only.
Only my cake is delivered by Inari himself.
I am quite surprised.
Before he leaves after putting the piece of cake on the table in front of me, I ask him, "Are you busy after this?"
Inari blinks at me and shakes his head, "I have finished my duty,"
"Why don't you sit here and eat with us then?" I invite him to sit on the same table as us good-naturedly, since there is an empty seat left in a table for four, "Or, are you going back to your family?"
Just like what Tokito told me before, Inari's family consists of parents and two older sisters. A table for four with five people sitting together... That's impossible.
After hesitating for a bit, Inari nods and takes a seat across from me.
Tokito and Shin greet Inari after he sits down. Swiftly, a passing waiter gives Inari a meal and a piece of his birthday cake.
That's right. Smiling, I tell Inari, "Thank you for the cake!"
Inari nods, "You are welcome,"
Smiling, Shin mentions me, "Aren't you kind?"
"Kind? Big Brother Tokito is kinder than me though!" eagerly, I let them know my opinion
Shin chuckles, "Of course he is kind to you, Tokie,"
"Of course I am kind to my family," with a sweet smile, Tokito pats my head
Although Tokito is patting my head gently, his eyes are glaring at Shin.
I see the corner of Inari's lip turning up for a bit, even though he is quietly eating without looking at anyone.
The reason I am inviting Inari here is because... Inari is also a friend. Even though it's Mister Kisaragi's will, I did agree to become Inari's friend.
Also, this is Inari's birthday party. He has been busy going around to greet the guests, like I did, so I think he might need a rest. I am sure I did not make a bad judgement when inviting him to sit with us.
While Tokito and Shin are busy, Inari and I are quietly watching. As I thought, our compatibility is good when I do not need to act cheerful. Silence is golden.
But, to make gold, it is a noisy progress. A perfect analogy for Tokito and Shin.
19.
The diary by great-great-great-aunt, the great inventor Tokie Mikagami, is hidden well by my side.
One day, I read it again after meeting Shin Fushimi and Inari Kisaragi.
The familiarity of their names are from the letter, I finally realise.
Inari Kisaragi is said to be a friend. He is a friend.
Shin Fushimi is said to be a senior. He is our investor.
Besides Tokito Mikagami, my Big Brother, there are two names written in there that I...don't know belong to who.
Atsushi Akari the teammate and Mikoto Sanada the Heroine.
Putting aside my name, Tokie Mikagami the Villainess... Heroine and teammate, huh? I don't know what kind of Heroine she is, but as for teammate... It means that, right? My partner at the research institute.
Just like how Father and Mother who were once partners in a team who fell in love with each other, this Atsushi Akari is someone who would become my partner, my teammate.
The probability of me falling in love with Atsushi Akari is... Low.
I am unofficially engaged to Shin, after all. To fall in love with someone else when I know I might have to marry Shin... It will hurt, won't it?
Well, I will definitely do my best so I won't end up marrying Shin without love... Is there a chance for us to fall in love at all?
My, my. Am I at the age where I am conscious of romantic relationship already?
In that case, instead of Shin or Atsushi Akari, maybe I should stay with Inari for a peace of mind.
As for Tokito, he will be busy with inventions to fulfil the quota of Shin's investment. Of course, I will also do my best to invent items too.
Tokito and I have rented one apartment's room for us to share near the research institute. We have finished moving out from the house today too.
Since we have passed the exam and interview to work at the research institute, the only thing left to do is to go to work tomorrow.
Tokito and I working at the research institute is something given, with our background as Mikagami family member and all.
Although, I don't know what to think about having a co-worker such as Shin, who took the exam for fun and passed.
Inari too, had taken the exam with us. I heard it is because he is interested to work outside of his Father's jurisdiction. Eventually, Inari will have to work for his Father. Before that time comes, Inari decides to gain experience from the research institute.
Both Inari and Shin have rented one apartment room beside us too. All in all, we are still as close as ever.
Yet, since my teammate might be Atsushi Akari... There is a chance we will be assigned to different departments or something.
19.
When the newcomers gather together, I count that there are only 10 people who are hired in this term.
A couple of seniors comes into this meeting room where we are waiting and welcome us.
First, we will start with an introduction among ourselves. After a tour inside of the building, we are told to give introductions to everyone within this institute in the hall tomorrow.
If we want to give a presentation of our idea or even research, we are allowed to do that when introducing ourselves to everyone tomorrow.
I don't have anything to show, so I will only be doing an introduction. However, there is a beautiful girl with long silky blue hair and gentle scarlet eyes who want to present something.
Among us 10 newcomers, she is the only one who has a grasp of her own ability. She is... Mikoto Sanada.
As expected of the Heroine, should I say? Already a step further than the rest of us.
As a Heroine, she is our role model, isn't she?
"Since there are 10 people here, it means the number is even," one senior talks while another senior distribute a piece of 5 x 5 cm white paper and a pen to us, "Please write down your name and your choice of the following options:
A) invention
B) improvision
C) research
D) development
After you have finished writing it, fold the paper and hand it over,"
Tokito will pick invention, won't he? As for me... Even though I should have picked the same as him, I pick something else instead.
On this matter, the senior said it is not to limit us to what we can do. It is to assign us our most compatible partner.
Ah. Since the senior explains it only after I have written down my name and choice, I can't change it anymore. See, another senior has come to collect my paper.
Do the seniors do these sequence on purpose?