156 Chapter two, 2016, school festival, madness beginning: 6 (1/2)
”I don't care if you'll have problems later. Nakagawa promised he'd cover your back and now you'd better man up!”
”Why do you always trust the old goat?” Urufu was visibly sulking.
Noriko didn't care. She didn't even long for him any longer and that reduced him to a useful tool. The most important tool on two legs on the school grounds. ”Shut up and make it work! If you want me in your fan club you'd damn better deserve it.”
The student council treasurer sat across the desks and watched them with stunned incomprehension.
”You certain you can't provide the funding?” Urufu asked him again. Another poor attempt at crawling out of the trap Noriko just sprung on him.
The treasurer finally found air enough to speak. ”Three million yen? Are you crazy? Where the hell do you expect me to get that kind of money on short notice?”
”Fuck!” Urufu said.
”Language!” Noriko said and glared at him. She needed him to back down. ”Look, you can dock my pay if it doesn't work out,” she suggested, and with that Urufu's secret was out in the open.
”Screw you!”
'Thank all gods I mostly fell out of love with you earlier!' That wasn't entirely true, but most of her feelings lay elsewhere now. ”Thank you but no thank you. Nao maybe, but it's too early yet.” 'I'm unfair, but it can't be helped. You'd work me over the same way.' ”Make it happen!”
What she demanded of Urufu was beyond the pale, and she'd have what she needed or she'd see the festival crumble within a few hours. She locked eyes with him.
”Bah! No wonder I pay you two the most,” he said and admitted defeat.
”Pay?” the council treasurer said from his chair.
”Shut up!” both Noriko and Urufu said in unison.
”Fine! Get me someone with a motorcycle and an extra helmet. I'll need coordinates as well.”
Noriko sank back in her seat. She'd apologise later. ”I love you, you know. Not the way I love Nao, but still. I'll get your ride.” She would. One of the thugs in 9:1 rode one.
She wasn't supposed to know, but the hulking giant in 9:1 adored everything Wakayama from the moment they stood their ground against the bullying at Red Rose Hell. Since last night Urufu was included in his hero worship, because Noriko told him why Urufu was expelled.
”What's going on?” the treasurer asked and broke Noriko's memories.
She threw him a dark look. ”If the student council can't fund the cultural festival Hamarugen-sama will do so in your stead.” Urufu deserved that much at least. She forced him to put his company on the line based on pure speculation. In return she could at least refer to him with the utmost respect.