Master of the Machete Style Manga

Chapter 177 Ai Hoshihara's Tactics
"Hey, did you see that just now?!"

Mikazuki Haruna, holding Natsume Mio's hand, looked towards the booths in the distance.

Even without Mikazuki Haruna saying anything, Natsume Mio had been keeping an eye on Sakamoto Ken's situation all along.

She clearly saw the woman put her feet on the table and make some meaningful gestures towards Sakamoto Ken while standing on her tiptoes.

She probably knew that Ah Jian was a foot fetishist!

Then she used this despicable method to seduce Ah Jian, trying to get him to do her thing.

Oh dear, you've been out for so long, your feet must be filthy!
However, Ah Jian didn't touch it; instead, he looked quite calm.

This shows that it was just this bad woman's wishful thinking that she wanted to seduce Ah Jian, while Ah Jian had no feelings for her at all.

Natsume Mio and Mikazuki Haruna, who were mortal enemies in front of Sakamoto Ken just now, now seem like comrades-in-arms who have joined forces on the same side.

Mio Natsume said to Haruna Mikazuki, "You know what Ken is thinking, right?"

“Of course I know. He wants to be my gigolo. Just like my recent precognitive dream, he’ll be falling at my feet and calling me ‘sugar daddy’,” Mikazuki Haruna said.

Natsume Mio rolled her eyes at her and said, "If you still have such strange ideas, Ken will be completely taken advantage of by other women!"

"I was just saying that offhand," Mikazuki Haruna said. "You mean, the two of us should work together?"

"We can't let her take advantage of us, can we?" Natsume Mio said.

"Then tell me the truth, what stage have you and Ken reached?" Mikazuki Haruna said.

Mio Natsume chuckled and said, "Actually, it's nothing much, it's just... kissing and stuff..."

Haruna Mikazuki's eyes widened immediately, and she exclaimed, "Huh? You two have already kissed?!"

"Eh? You and Ken haven't done anything yet~" Natsume Mio said with a slightly smug expression, "I'm not talking about forcibly kissing Ken or anything, Ken initiated it~ and more than once~"

"Do you have a video?" Mikazuki Haruna asked.

"Who would film themselves kissing?!"

“Then you’re lying to me,” Mikazuki Haruna said, turning her head away.

"Tch, think what you want~" Natsume Mio said, "You're the one who asked me to tell you how far things have gone between Ken and me."

“Kissing is nothing, I’ve even done ‘that’ with Ken,” Mikazuki Haruna said.

"what?"

"Of course it's Love."

"Is there a video?"

"Hey, who would film a video at a time like that!" Mikazuki Haruna said somewhat guiltily.

"Then you're lying to me." Natsume Mio gave her a taste of her own medicine.

Mio Natsume, of course, did not believe it at all.

After all, if she and Ah Jian had had that kind of relationship, how could she appear less intimate with him than with her?

Mikazuki Haruna pouted slightly but didn't refute.

After all, she did do what she was talking about, but only in a dream...

At that moment, Natsume Mio saw Kaji Keiko walking over.

She quickly waved to Keiko Kaji and strode forward.

"Kaji-san!" Natsume Mio walked up to Kaji Keiko and said, "You were with Ken just now, weren't you?"

Haruna Mikazuki quickly came over and asked directly, "Kaji-san, what were Ken and that woman talking about just now?"

Keiko Kaji twitched the corners of her mouth and gave a somewhat forced chuckle, saying, "I didn't notice. Um... I came over after greeting Sakamoto-sensei."

She didn't want to get involved in Sakamoto-sensei's love triangle.

The situation is too obvious; Sakamoto-sensei has an ambiguous relationship with both of them.

The key point is that these people seem to be competing with each other. Sakamoto-sensei's charm is just too great, isn't it?

Mio Natsume didn't linger there any longer and headed towards the booth.

Mikazuki Haruna followed closely behind and said to her, "The banquet is almost over, and I've already seen some people leaving."

“Let’s go too, but we should take her with us,” Natsume Mio said.

The two returned to their seats. Natsume Mio was about to sit in her previous spot, next to Sakamoto Ken, when Mikazuki Haruna suddenly quickened her pace, squeezed into the booth, and plopped down on her seat.

"Huh?? You..."

Natsume Mio glanced at Mikazuki Haruna, who had taken the lead, and was slightly taken aback. She glared at her but didn't say anything. She sat down next to Hoshihara Ai.

The seat next to Ken Sakamoto, just like him, was taken by three girls in turn.

"Is Xiaojian planning to exchange ideas with his peers?" Ai Hoshihara asked.

Ken Sakamoto shook his head and said, "Never mind, there's nothing to talk about."

His original intention for attending the banquet was simply to receive an award, but later he changed his mind and prepared to face all three of them at the same time.

So far, everything is within his expectations and has not spiraled out of control.

Upon hearing Sakamoto Ken's words, Mikazuki Haruna grabbed his arm and said firmly, "Alright, now that we've eaten enough, let's go back! I've already messaged Aunt Kazuko, and the car is waiting at the door."

“I’ll just take a taxi back; it’s not in the same direction as your house,” Sakamoto Ken said.

"Why take a taxi!" Haruna Mikazuki said. "We're going to be sitting in the car anyway, and taking a slightly longer route won't take too long. Let me take you back to your studio first!"

Mio Natsume immediately chimed in, "Me too!"

"Okay, Mio, let's go together."

Mikazuki Haruna nodded, her gaze fixed on Sakamoto Ken, awaiting his response.

Ken Sakamoto looked at Ai Hoshihara across from him and asked, "How are you getting back?"

Ai Hoshino shrugged and said, "I drove here, so of course I'm driving back."

Ken Sakamoto pointed to the wine glass on the table and said, "You drank wine."

Ai Hoshino looked as if she had just realized something, but the smile on her lips was obvious. She had deliberately driven over and deliberately drunk a glass of wine.

He feigned a slightly tipsy look and said to Ken Sakamoto, "Oh yeah, you can't drive after drinking. How about Ken drives me home?"

Natsume Mio immediately interrupted her, saying, "No way! Ken hasn't gotten his driver's license yet!"

Ken Sakamoto nodded and said, "Although I can drive, I don't have a driver's license."

Ai Hoshino said, "Well, there's really no other way. How about I go with you and drive here next time?"

She looked at Mikazuki Haruna and said, "Mikazuki Haruna, is there still room in your car?"

Kenjiro Sakamoto answered first, "Of course there is, it's that three-row MPV."

Mikazuki Haruna said unhappily, "Ken, how could you agree to this for me without my consent?"

She pouted and said, "There are only three seats available on the bus."

There are definitely positions available, it's just that she doesn't want them.

Ken Sakamoto didn't insist, after all, he had to consider her feelings.

Ken Sakamoto suggested, "Editor Kaji doesn't seem to have been drinking. How about we have Kaji-san drive for us?"

Mio Natsume immediately chimed in, "Great idea! That's a good idea!"

Haruna Mikazuki said, "Then it's settled. I'll have to ask Editor Kaji for help."

Natsume Mio looked around and saw Kaji Keiko standing on the other side of the hall.

She suddenly raised her hand and waved.

Ken Sakamoto followed her gaze and saw that Keiko Kaji was looking in their direction.

She saw Natsume Mio waving and immediately walked over.

Mio Natsume and Haruna Mikazuki seemed particularly satisfied with the outcome. After all, the older sister who posed the greatest threat could go back with Editor Kaji, so she wouldn't be able to go and cheat on Ken at night.

When Keiko Kaji walked over, Ken Sakamoto saw that she had already put her small bag over her shoulder.

"Is Kaji-san planning to go back?" Sakamoto Ken asked.

Keiko Kaji patted the small handbag at her waist and said, "Yes, some editors and writers are going to have a second meeting at an izakaya, so I won't be participating in these activities."

Ken Sakamoto noticed Ai Hoshihara looking at him with a wistful expression. He smiled back and said to Keiko Kaji, "Editor-san, we need to ask you for a favor."

Kaji Keiko said, "Tell me, what is it?"

Ai Hoshihara took the initiative to speak, saying, "Editor Kaji, I need to ask you for a favor. I drove here, but I had a few drinks, and I would like to trouble you to drive me home."

Keiko Kaji immediately nodded in agreement: "No problem, Hoshihara-sensei, where do you live?"

Ai Hoshihara said, "Bunkyo Ward, near the University of Tokyo."

When she mentioned the area near the University of Tokyo, Natsume Mio glanced at Sakamoto Ken.

She recalled that day, in her dream she inexplicably ended up in front of an apartment building next to the University of Tokyo, and saw Ken Sakamoto and the older woman next to him on a park bench...

She looked at the older woman sitting right next to her with a wary expression.

Anyway, there shouldn't be any problems for the rest of today.

With Editor Gachi there, she can be made sure to be taken directly home.

Meanwhile, she and Mikazuki Haruna escorted Ken back. The four of them got up and quickly followed Kaji Keiko out of the hotel.

In front of the lobby, the MPV that Aunt Hezi had driven was already parked and waiting.

Ken Sakamoto pointed to the car and said to Ai Hoshihara, "Then I'll go back with them."

Ai Hoshino smiled slightly and waved, saying, "Are you going back to the studio?"

Ken Sakamoto nodded and said, "Of course."

"Could it be that he's going on a date with those two late at night?" Ai Hoshihara asked, smiling at the two girls.

"I don't need to tell you that," Mikazuki Haruna replied rather unfriendly.

“That’s right!” Natsume Mio pushed Sakamoto Ken into the car, and then got in herself.

Ai Hoshino chuckled lightly, not bothering to argue with the two girls.

In her opinion, these two young girls are all talk and no action; they're still too naive.

If they had been bolder, Ah Jian would have been devoured by them long ago.

Ai Hoshino wasn't worried at all about what they might do while sitting in the car.

If it were just Ken Sakamoto and one of them, there might have been quite a few stories.

However, even when they are together, although they appear to be in a cooperative relationship on the surface, they are actually wary of each other.

At this rate, who knows when you'll be able to eat Ah Jian again?

Ai Hoshihara said to Keiko Kaji next to her, "Editor-san, my car is parked over here."

After saying that, she walked towards the parking lot without looking back, showing no sign of lingering over Sakamoto Ken.

Now, both Natsume Mio and Mikazuki Haruna breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The three of them sat together in the car. Unlike when they came, this time Natsume Mio and Mikazuki Haruna seemed to have formed some kind of alliance. They sat on either side of each other in the second row of the car, leaving Sakamoto Ken to sit in the third row.

Fortunately, this MPV has three rows of space in the back, with the first two rows being spacious sofa seats.

Kenya Sakamoto was happy to relax, so he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

After Haruna Mikazuki pressed the close button, she asked Aunt Kazuko to drive to Ken Sakamoto's studio first.

Their plan was to first send Sakamoto Ken home, then go to Natsume Mio's house, and finally Mikazuki Haruna would go home by herself.

Mio Natsume had originally suggested that she and Ken could get off at the studio and then take the train back, thus avoiding taking the same route twice.

The suggestion was immediately rejected by Haruna Mikazuki as soon as it was made.

The reason is obvious: Mikazuki Haruna thinks Natsume Mio plans to stay at Sakamoto Ken's house and eat alone after she leaves.

After all, the two are still only in a superficial cooperative relationship, so Natsume Mio didn't insist much; she was just saying it casually.

The vehicle continued forward, and Ken Sakamoto glanced behind him but couldn't see Ai Hoshihara's car.

……

A few minutes later, Ai Hoshihara's car finally drove out of the hotel parking lot.

Keiko Kaji sat in the driver's seat, holding the steering wheel.

The car's navigation system was set to Ai Hoshihara's apartment in Bunkyo Ward, but Ai turned it off as soon as they got onto the main road.

Keiko Kaji looked at Ai Hoshihara with a puzzled expression and said, "Hoshihara-sensei? I'm not very familiar with the roads here, so I'll have to use navigation."

Ai Hoshino simply said, "I'll go to another destination."

As she spoke, she started operating the navigation system, and soon it replanned a route.

Keiko Kaji glanced at it and asked doubtfully, "Is this Sakamoto-sensei's address?"

Ai Hoshino sat in the passenger seat, reclining relaxed, and said, "Let's go to Ken's house. Please, editor-san."

Keiko Kaji was silent for a few seconds, then said somewhat awkwardly, "Mr. Hoshihara has a date with Mr. Sakamoto tonight."

Ai Hoshihara hummed in agreement and said, "Editor, please don't tell those two little girls about this, okay?"

Keiko Kaji gripped the steering wheel, but her mind was a jumbled mess.

Wait, what's going on here?
Wasn't it supposed to be me taking this judge back to her home?

How did it turn into sending her to Sakamoto-sensei's house?

And considering what I saw about her interaction with Mr. Sakamoto at the dinner party earlier...

Keiko Kaji naturally had a very bold guess in her mind.

That is, this Hoshino-sensei was also one of Sakamoto-sensei's lovers.

Why is it described as "one of"?

Judging from Sakamoto-sensei's previous interactions with Mikazuki Haruna and Natsume Mio, his relationship with the two of them is definitely not simple.

As expected of Sakamoto-sensei...

Kaji Keiko sighed inwardly.

She drove silently following the navigation route and said to Ai Hoshino, "Don't worry, I won't tell them."

Ai Hoshino nodded in satisfaction and said, "That's good. This is a secret between Ken and us. By the way, if they ask, just say that you took me back to my apartment tonight."

Keiko Kaji felt as if she had inexplicably become part of Sakamoto-sensei's play...

She twitched the corners of her mouth, considering that Sakamoto-sensei was, after all, the author she was editing, and an editor's job was to serve the author.

It's not just about creative work, but also about all aspects of life.

However, Keiko Kaji had a nagging thought: did the editor really need to help with something like a writer dating three women at the same time?

If a fierce battle breaks out between you two, won't innocent people be affected?

I feel like I've stepped into Sakamoto-sensei's battleground...

At this moment, Ai Hoshihara said again, "By the way, Kaji-san, I'll have to trouble you to walk around here a couple more times."

Kaji Keiko asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Ai Hoshino said, "Didn't Ken leave with the two of them? I have to wait for Ken to get off the bus and go home. I'll go to his place after the two of them leave, so I don't get seen."

Keiko Kaji forced a smile and said somewhat reluctantly, "Okay...okay, then I'll drive around a couple more times ahead."

"Thank you, Kaji-san."

"You're welcome……"

Keiko Kaji was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Um, Hoshihara-sensei, I'll keep it a secret for you, but just in case... I mean, just in case..."

Before Keiko Kaji could finish speaking, Ai Hoshihara anticipated her words and said, "If they find out, I'll say that I hired a designated driver, not that Kaji-san drove me there."

Kaji Keiko nodded, then added, "No, no, it should be... I first took Hoshihara-sensei back to your house, then I took a taxi back, and only after that did you call a designated driver to go to Sakamoto-sensei's place..."

"Don't worry, Kaji-san, it won't affect you," Hoshihara Ai assured her.

Kaji Keiko nodded repeatedly: "That's good, that's good..."

"Oh, right." A thought flashed through Keiko Kaji's mind, and she casually said, "Hoshihara-sensei, don't delay Sakamoto-sensei's creation."

"I can't guarantee that, will he miss deadlines?" Ai Hoshihara said.

"I won't miss any deadlines, and I actually have quite a few drafts saved up. I just hope that Sakamoto-sensei can focus his energy primarily on writing..."

"It's just a date with him, it won't interfere with anything," Hoshihara Ai said. "Kaji-san, you've never dated a man before?"

"Um, well..." Keiko Kaji felt a little embarrassed, after all, she was quite old. She nodded slightly and said, "No..."

"Oh?"

Ai Hoshino raised an eyebrow slightly. She had been completely relaxed just moments before, but now she turned her head to carefully examine the manga editor who was driving.

She was about the same age as her, and quite good-looking.

Sensing Ai Hoshihara's gaze, and just as they were waiting at a traffic light, Keiko Kaji turned to look at her: "Ms. Hoshihara, is there anything else you need to arrange?"

Ai Hoshino smiled slightly and shook her head, saying, "It's nothing, just do as we just said."

Next, the whole journey was silent.

Keiko Kaji drove through the traffic, following the navigation as she turned onto a small road in a residential area.

Once she got here, she inexplicably felt like she was having an affair, and she drove more carefully, afraid that she would see that MPV from before around the corner...

Fortunately, the journey was safe. She parked the car in the parking lot next to the convenience store and got out with Ai Hoshihara.

Then, Keiko Kaji bid farewell to Ai Hoshihara and hurried towards Akihabara, afraid that if she lingered there any longer, she would be drawn into some kind of vortex...

Ai Hoshihara watched her until she was out of sight before heading towards Ken Sakamoto's house.

She had only walked a few meters when she turned back and went into the convenience store.

I bought a few necessities on the go before leisurely arriving at the door of this detached house.

The lights were on inside, but the windows on the first floor were frosted, so you couldn't see inside.

Ai Hoshino stood in front of the door, first listening intently, but it was quiet inside.

Very well, just as she expected, the two little girls did not stay at the Sakamoto Ken's house.

Ai Hoshihara rang the doorbell.

(End of this chapter)