Master of the Machete Style Manga

Chapter 172 The First Meeting of the Three Girls

"How did she end up in your house?!"

Mikazuki Haruna stared directly at Natsume Mio, who returned the gaze without hesitation.

She put her hands on her hips, stood up straight, and said with a light hum, "Of course I came to A-Jian's house to go on a date with him."

Ken Sakamoto glanced at the girl standing next to him, quite surprised that she would say that.

After all, it wasn't a date in the first place.

Besides, Mio coming to his place has become a daily routine, something Mikazuki Haruna is aware of.

Kenjiro Sakamoto waved his hand and said to Haruna Kazuki, "Mio comes almost every day."

Mio Natsume immediately chimed in, "That's right, I bring Ken lunch every day, but you've never cared about Ken at all."

Mikazuki Haruna was of course aware that Natsume Mio had delivered a bento to Sakamoto Ken.

She pouted slightly, looked at the white dress Natsume Mio was wearing, and then her gaze shifted to Sakamoto Kenjiro.

Regardless, Ken Sakamoto still put on the clothes she bought.

This made Mikazuki Haruna feel a little better, especially since it was in front of Natsume Mio.

You'd never guess that this was bought for Ah Jian.

Just as Mikazuki Haruna was thinking of this, Natsume Mio patted Sakamoto Ken on the shoulder and said, "Thank you for buying Ken the clothes. Ken likes them very much."

"And it looks really cool on me, it matches my dress perfectly." She said, while lifting the hem of her pure white dress.

Mikazuki Haruna stood at the doorway, watching the two of them.

Ken Sakamoto was dressed in deep black, while Mio Natsume was dressed in pure white from head to toe.

It does look like it has a black and white color scheme.

But clearly, this black dress of mine is the one that matches him.

Haruna Mikazuki grabbed Ken Sakamoto's hand, pulled him to her side, and said, "Take a good look, I bought this set from Ken."

She patted her skirt, and Natsume Mio noticed that the pattern on the skirt did indeed echo the pattern on Sakamoto Ken's clothes.

You don't notice it when you look at one piece alone, but the effect becomes very obvious when you put two pieces together.

Just as Natsume Mio was about to ask, Sakamoto Ken said, "Actually, I think your clothes match better. You're both wearing skirts and stockings, but one is black and the other is white."

After he finished speaking, Natsume Mio and Mikazuki Haruna looked each other over.

Taking the opportunity, Ken Sakamoto added, "Why don't you two stand together and take a look?"

As he spoke, he gently nudged Natsume Mio, making her stand next to Mikazuki Haruna.

"No, why should I stand with her!" Mikazuki Haruna said unhappily.

Ken Sakamoto didn't answer her. Instead, he carefully examined the two girls in front of him and seriously commented, "Indeed, they are a perfect match."

Mikazuki Haruna scoffed and said, "What are you talking about! Who wants to be a match for her!"

Standing next to Ken Sakamoto, Mio Natsume whispered, "Ken, you should have known better than to think that she bought you this dress with ill intentions."

Ken Sakamoto shook his head and said, "Alright, since Haruna has sent her nanny to pick us up, let's get in the car."

Natsume Mio paused slightly, then said, "Eh? You're getting into her car again?"

Haruna Mikazuki walked quickly to the car, which looked like a luxurious MPV.

She pulled the door handle, and the entire side door slid open, revealing very comfortable sofas and chairs inside.

Furthermore, there is a partition between the front driver's cab and the rear space, so they cannot see or hear each other.

When Ken Sakamoto saw the car, he immediately recalled some of his experiences from the previous game.

This is the car...

Haruna Mikazuki sat in the back seat, while her nanny, Auntie Ko, drove in the front.

Then, Mikazuki Haruna couldn't wait any longer and immediately clung to him in the car, and the two wrestled for a while in the back seat.

Haruna Mikazuki told him that the car was originally bought by her father for business receptions, so the front and rear seats were completely soundproof.

No matter what you say in the back, the driver in the front won't hear you unless they press the intercom button on the door.

The two girls were still standing outside the car when Ken Sakamoto got in.

He first sat down on the sofa seat, then leaned out of the car to look at the two girls outside.

Ken Sakamoto said to them, "Stop dawdling, get in the car, and remember to close the door at home."

Natsume Mio hesitated for a couple of seconds before finally reaching out and pulling on the door behind her to close it, then walking towards the car.

However, at that moment, Mikazuki Haruna got on the bus first and sat directly next to Sakamoto Ken.

After getting on the bus, Natsume Mio looked at the seating arrangement inside.

She pulled down a folding chair opposite the sofa where Sakamoto Ken was sitting and sat down on it, facing Sakamoto Ken.

Haruna Mikazuki said to her, "Hey, why are you sitting there? That's where you put your feet. Go sit in the back."

Opposite the sofa chairs they were sitting on was a folding stool that was originally designed for assistants.

When there's no assistant in the car, you can stretch your legs out and put them on it.

Natsume Mio didn't seem to care that the place she was sitting in wasn't as comfortable as a sofa or chair. She even patted her legs and said, "Ken, you can put your feet up here."

Sakamoto Ken, of course, didn't put his feet on her legs. If she liked, she could put her feet on his legs; they were soft and squishy, ​​and quite relaxing to touch.

At that moment, Mikazuki Haruna closed the car door and pressed the intercom button.

"Aunt Kazuko, let's drive."

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt the vehicle vibrate slightly before smoothly moving forward.

Ken Sakamoto had ridden in this car many times, but he had never had an experience like this before.

In the past, it was always just him and Mikazuki Haruna in the car, and they would recline the soft, large sofa seats and do some intimate things.

But now...

In front of her was Natsume Mio, and beside her was Mikazuki Haruna. It was clear that both of them looked a little reserved, and their eyes would occasionally dart towards each other.

The car remained silent until we arrived at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

The vehicle stopped outside the hotel lobby, and Aunt Kazuko's voice came through the loudspeaker inside the car: "Miss, we've arrived."

She simply said one sentence and then ended the communication.

Ken Sakamoto could also see through the car window that the hotel doorman was already walking towards them.

"Get off the bus," Sakamoto Ken said to Mikazuki Haruna.

Mikazuki Haruna was sitting near the hotel entrance. She pressed a button on the door, and the door slid open to the side.

The doorman, who was already standing in front of the car, bowed to her and said, "Hello, ma'am, welcome to the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Do any of you have reservations?"

Haruna Mikazuki said to him, "We've come to attend JUMP's dinner party."

The doorman nodded and pointed towards the revolving door: "Understood. After entering the lobby, turn right. Someone will guide you to the venue. Have a pleasant evening."

On one side of the hotel, there was a large sign that read "2015 JUMP Author Dinner," and staff members wearing clothes with the Shueisha logo were there to greet guests.

Ken Sakamoto spotted Keiko Kaji from afar; the Shueisha logo was printed on the left chest of her pure white T-shirt.

I've never seen an editor wear clothes like this before; it must be something they only wear to represent the company at events.

Keiko Kaji also saw Ken Sakamoto and waved to him from afar.

Ken Sakamoto strode over.

"Sakamoto Ken-sensei, Mitsuki Haru-sensei, and Mio-chan, good afternoon! I've finally waited for you all." Kaji Keiko greeted them with a smile. She picked up an autograph book and said, "Please sign here, Sakamoto Ken-sensei and Mitsuki Haru-sensei, then you can enter."

Haruna Mikazuki signed it first, followed closely by Ken Sakamoto.

Natsume Mio was watching from the side, and Mikazuki Haruna said to her smugly, "You're not a writer, so you probably can't attend the writers' dinner."

Natsume Mio gave a soft hum and approached Kaji Keiko, saying, "Kaji-san, the awards ceremony and banquet are held together, right? Should I sign in or something..."

Keiko Kaji explained, "Mio doesn't need to sign in. The writers' friends and family attending the award ceremony can go in with the writers."

Natsume Mio chuckled at Mikazuki Haruna, then hooked her arm around Sakamoto Ken's: "I'll just go in with Ken, no need for Mikazuki-sensei to worry~"

When Mikazuki Haruna saw her clinging to Sakamoto Ken, she immediately tried to pry off Sakamoto Ken's other arm.

At this moment, Sakamoto Ken's gaze was not on the two girls.

His gaze passed over the girl in front of him and looked towards the hotel entrance.

There, a familiar figure walked in.

Although Ken Sakamoto was mentally prepared, he still felt a jolt when he actually saw Ai Hoshihara appear in his line of sight.

After all, he was currently surrounded by Natsume Mio and Mikazuki Haruna, one of whom was already holding his arm, and the other was leaning against him.

so far so good……

Sakamoto Ken secretly rejoiced that he had been very prescient in asking Hoshihara Ai to log in and chat at noon, and had even satisfied her desires.

I guess I've convinced her, right?

Ai Hoshino paused briefly on the other side of the hotel lobby before quickening her pace towards this side.

When Mikazuki Haruna noticed that his gaze had shifted to the other side and followed his gaze, Sakamoto Ken had already looked away.

He casually swung his arm, just in time to break free from Natsume Mio's grasp on his arm. At the same time, Mikazuki Haruna also gave up the idea of ​​trying to pull his arm away. The two of them were already very close to him.

Kaji Keiko was the first to greet her.

Many writers attended the dinner, and many of them don't usually like to come to the publishing house. Usually, the editors would go to their homes to handle matters. So even though Keiko Kaji knew all the writers' names, she didn't really know very many of them.

She assumed that this tall woman, who possessed a mature and aloof air, was a writer for a magazine published by Shueisha.

"Hello, this is the registration area for Shueisha's banquet event. May I ask... oh?"

Kaji Keiko uttered the first half of her sentence casually, but she recognized the woman in front of her halfway through.

About ten days ago, as usual, she saw Mr. Sakamoto bring this woman into the studio.

At the time, Mr. Sakamoto said that he had just met a kind reader outside and brought her to visit his studio.

Aren't you a dedicated reader? How did you end up here?

Are they here to meet their idol in person?
It doesn’t look like…

Keiko Kaji sized up the woman in front of her.

Ai Hoshino was wearing a dark blue velvet women's suit set. The top was fitted at the waist and left unbuttoned, revealing a white camisole underneath. A crescent-shaped necklace adorned her collarbone.

Before Keiko Kaji could finish speaking, Ai Hoshihara said, "I am a judge for the Movie Star competition."

As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on Ken Sakamoto, while her peripheral vision caught sight of the two girls standing next to him.

Kaji Keiko exclaimed "Huh?" and subconsciously looked at Sakamoto Ken.

Ken Sakamoto gave her a somewhat helpless look. Although Keiko Kaji had a million questions in her mind, she didn't say anything.

Of course, the thoughts in my mind started to wander aimlessly.

Judging from her figure, appearance, and even temperament, Keiko Kaji was certain that she was the "enthusiastic reader" she had met at Sakamoto-sensei's studio that day.

And this "reader" happens to be a judge on the film and television star competition...

Could it be...? !

Keiko Kaji naturally thought of the term "unspoken rules".

After all, Sakamoto-sensei participated in the call for submissions, and the judges had a lot of say in the selection process.

If Sakamoto-sensei finds a judge in order to win an award for his work, then...

"Gulp..." Keiko Kaji silently swallowed, feeling that her guess might be the only reasonable possibility...

Keiko Kaji maintained her professional smile, nodded slightly, and picked up another autograph book from the table.

"This is the autograph book for the Film Star Awards ceremony. Please find your name here and sign it next to it."

Ai Hoshino picked up a pen, glanced at the autograph book, and casually signed her name.

Ken Sakamoto also noticed the change in Keiko Kaji's expression.

I took Ai Hoshihara to the studio that day, and Keiko Kaji had met her before. Now that Ai Hoshihara is here as a judge, she's bound to overthink it.

However, he trusted Editor Jia Zhi; naturally, she wouldn't tell outsiders about such matters.

Ai Hoshihara did not continue walking into the venue, but instead approached Ken Sakamoto.

Ken Sakamoto's eye twitched slightly, and he repeatedly gave Ai Hoshihara meaningful glances.

We made a promise when we met in the dream at noon that I would help him control the risks of a chaotic situation.

It was obvious that Ken Sakamoto noticed that Mio Natsume and Haruna Mikazuki, who were standing on either side of him, were also getting nervous.

Although they were all looking at this... "big sister", their peripheral vision was also fixed on Sakamoto Ken.

Moreover, a bold idea popped into their minds.

Regarding that recurring dream, the final scene involves a third woman besides the two women...

They couldn't explain why they suspected the woman in front of them. After all, in the memory of that dream, everyone except themselves and Sakamoto Ken was blurry. Not only were their faces unclear, but even their figures were indistinct.

But at this moment, they all had the same thought—could this guy in front of them be the third person from that memory?!
“Sakamoto Ken-sensei.” Hoshihara Ai said, her lips curving slightly upward as she stared intently at Sakamoto Ken.

Sakamoto Ken's smile was a little stiff as he nodded to Hoshihara Ai and said, "Horihara-sensei, thank you for your score, otherwise I might not have won this award."

"You're welcome." Ai Hoshihara chuckled and extended her right hand to Ken Sakamoto.

Ken Sakamoto looked at the hand hovering in front of him and had no choice but to bite the bullet and shake it: "Anyway, thank you, thank you..."

Sakamoto Ken's eyelids twitched slightly because he felt Hoshino Ai pinching his tiger's mouth, and he couldn't retaliate forcefully, as that would look even stranger to outsiders. He could only forcefully maintain a calm demeanor.

but……

Ken Sakamoto felt that he wasn't the only one who was nervous right now.

Ai Hoshino clasped his hands, and within just a few seconds, she could feel that her palms were slightly damp, with very obvious hand sweat.

She is very sensitive to heat and sweats easily; she has a constitution that produces a lot of water.

But the entire hotel lobby was air-conditioned and even a bit cold, so the sweat on her palms at that moment could only be due to nervousness or something similar.

Ken Sakamoto was the first to let go, but Ai Hoshihara held on tightly for two seconds before finally releasing her grip.

"See you soon."

Ai Hoshihara's gaze swept over Mio Natsume and Haruna Mikazuki again, then she decisively turned around and strode into the venue.

Watching her figure disappear into the distance, Ken Sakamoto felt no sense of relief whatsoever.

The tense moments tonight have probably only just begun...

For example, the two girls next to me.

If gazes could materialize, then at this very moment, Ken Sakamoto would surely be holding two machetes formed from his gaze to his neck…

(End of this chapter)