39 Beginning Of A Disaster... (1/2)
Right after stepping off the boat, I have come to a realization.
”Hey, Hanako.”
”Hm?”
”Do you think that Mio could've just gone up to Eiichi-san and ask one of the sailors to take her to the mainland?”
”Hm... I don't think so. I mean, she's the company president's daughter after all...”
”Hmm... What if dad gave her his permission to go to the mainland?”
”Then it's possible, I guess...”
Because of that, I decided to call my father.
”Oi, Dad.”
”What's up, Yuuji? You need any help finding Mio?”, my dad asked in his usual cheerful voice.
”Spill it.”
”Huh?”
”Spill it out. Where is Mio.”
”W-What are you talking about, Yuuji? I-I can't possibly be involved in this, right?”
”No need to make up excuses anymore, dad. Eiichi-san already told me all about it.”
”Tsk. That damn old man...”
”I lied, by the way.”
”Oi!!!”
”Spill it out, now!”
”N-Never!!!”
”If you don't spill it out, I'm going to call mom right now and tell her about the gravure magazine that you've hidden in the vault.”
”F-Fine!!!!”
And that was how I persuaded my dad to give me the information about Mio's whereabouts. Apparently, dad had a friend who is the head of the Black Tiger Gang. They met in college, or so he said. Anyway, he and this friend of his kept in touch with each other over the years, and so when Mio asked for a place to stay in the mainland, he asked this friend of his to give her a place to stay. However,
”Uh... Yuuji... If you're really going to the Black Tiger Gang's base... There's something you need to know...”
”Hm?”
”This gang has a rather eccentric rule. If someone is coming to stay with them, that person is required to have a spar with all the members in the gang first. If that person wins against all of their members, he or she will immediately become the gang leader. And from what I've heard... My friend just stepped down from his position as the gang leader a few hours ago.”
”So, wait... Mio's the gang leader now?!?!”
”Yep...”
After hanging up the phone, I told Hanako about Mio's whereabouts.