> Decision
> >1 - If she stuck to the rules she accepted to then she has nothing to hide!
> >2 - You could both end up fired! Is that what she wants?
> >3 - Actually, IT showed the chat already since she uses the official account which is on public record.
> >4 - Confess. You spied on the chat and even added access to your own computer afterwards.
>
> Winner
> >2 - You could both end up fired! Is that what she wants?
In the end, Kaiba being embarrassed for a bit is preferable to her losing her trust in you.
Besides, you’ve already seen it, right?
As long as you keep your reaction tame, you’ll be able to limit the emotional damage you inflict on Kaiba.
“Kaiba-san,” you say as gently as possible, “I’m not sure if you heard, but before I worked as your manager, I actually worked at human resources here at Matsuno Inc.”
Kaiba peeks between her fingers, glancing at you, “Is that how you know HR-san? The green-haired girl?”
“Yes, I used to work with Kitabayashi Yui-san,” you say, nodding, “But that’s not why I mentioned it.”
You make your best effort at a no-nonsense expression, “Because I worked at HR, I know that sharing the location of your fellow idols like you did could put them in harm’s way. Endangering a fellow idol like this are grounds for immediate termination. You could lose your job as an idol over this.”
“Even I, being responsible for you, could lose my job over this,” you add for emphasis.
Whatever embarrassment she still felt is immediately replaced with pure dread.
”N-no,” she says, eyes widening and tearing up, “That…c-cant, please, I didn’t mean to…”
Face stern, you nod, “It’s true,” you say, “The best I can do for you now is damage control, that’s why I need to see the chat. I need to know what else you said.”
Kaiba’s tears are flowing freely now and sitting in her chair is nothing but a scared, little girl.
She makes eye contact with you for a brief moment, nods, props her knees up, hides her face in her arms, and sobs quietly.
Whether she cries because her job is at risk or because she thinks she’ll almost assuredly be forced to cut ties with EmikoDesu – you don’t know.
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/67cfdb5b-ff17-49d1-a34b-1503eba16c35.jpg]
Having her consent to read the private chat you’ve already read in secret, you spend a few minutes slowly re-reading the chatlog to make it seem like you’re reading it all for the first time.
It’s a long, grim tale in chat message format about somebody making a lonely girl feel special only to then constantly threaten to take it away if Kaiba resists in any way.
Having read it this morning, most of it is known to you and you try to gasp and frown where appropriate.
Scrolling through this all completely stone-faced would probably seem suspicious.
However, much to your surprise you eventually hit upon a block of chat messages you haven’t seen before.
The timestamps puts them between 10:15 AM and 11:39 AM, with the last message being responsible for the noise that tipped you off on the chat at the start of this confrontation.
These all happened a short time after you read the chat and began watching cat videos.
----------------------------------------
== April 16, 2015 (Friday)
[10:15] @EmikoDesuu55: I’ve thought about it…
[10:15] @EmikoDesuu55: I’ve been too hard on you… I’m sorry （´皿｀；）
[10:15] @EmikoDesuu55: I was just mad you didn't wanna hang out with me! T_T
[10:16] @EmikoDesuu55: Forgive me <3 ?
[10:24] @KaibaAoiOfficial: <3
[10:25] @KaibaAoiOfficial: of course
[10:25] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I thought you hated me for real!
[10:33] @EmikoDesuu55: Never!
[10:33] @EmikoDesuu55: Don’t you usually have a meeting now?
[10:33] @KaibaAoiOfficial: It ended early and we have the trip tomorrow so no big plans.
[10:33] @EmikoDesuu55: Have fun on the trip!
[10:34] @EmikoDesuu55: You gotta make sure you make memories with the other idol
[10:34] @EmikoDesuu55: Take many pictures and share them with me!
[10:35] @EmikoDesuu55: I know you said on the phone she was shady, but maybe if you’re friends with her she wont try that stuff on you
[10:35] @EmikoDesuu55: and if she does pull something you just tell me （￣ ｗ￣）Ψ
[10:36] @EmikoDesuu55: I’ll ruin her life lol
[10:39] @KaibaAoiOfficial: please dont :P
[10:39] @KaibaAoiOfficial: But thanks Emiko-chan <3
[10:36] @EmikoDesuu55: Do you know what place you’re going yet?
[10:39] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I asked Matsui-san, but she can’t say for safety reasons
[10:39] @KaibaAoiOfficial: All I know is that it’s a place near mt fuji with a hotspring
[10:40] @EmikoDesuu55: DEFINITLY take pictures
[10:40] @KaibaAoiOfficial: You want me to get fired? lol
[10:40] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Not gonna take pictures of the others in the hotspring
[10:41] @EmikoDesuu55: Who said anything about the others? ° ͜ʖ ͡ – ✧
[10:41] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Pff, pervert :P
[10:41] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I’m kinda nervous since there’ll be a lot of people
[10:42] @EmikoDesuu55: wasn’t it just the idols and the managers like the mail said?
[10:44] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Yes, but new idols are joining that I haven’t met yet
[10:44] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I don’t think they were tagged in the mail
[10:44] @EmikoDesuu55: O_o
[10:45] @EmikoDesuu55: I thought you only had 1 other idol in your gen atm?
[10:45] @KaibaAoiOfficial: three more have joined that I haven’t met
[10:45] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I don’t think they’ve been announced on insta yet
[10:45] @KaibaAoiOfficial: That’s probably why you don’t know about them
[10:46] @EmikoDesuu55: Eh…unannounced idols…?
[10:46] @EmikoDesuu55: I see, I see … well, make sure to get pictures with them, too!
[10:47] @EmikoDesuu55: I wanna know everything that happened!
[10:47] @EmikoDesuu55: Post everything here!
[10:47] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I will after the weekend, I only really use this account during work
[10:48] @EmikoDesuu55: …then use it outside of work?
[10:48] @KaibaAoiOfficial: It’s a work account
[10:49] @EmikoDesuu55: So? Just get the app on your phone
[10:49] @KaibaAoiOfficial: can’t we just text or call?
[10:52] @EmikoDesuu55: T_T
[10:52] @EmikoDesuu55: Not all of us are fancy idols rolling in cash! D:
[10:52] @EmikoDesuu55: My bundle is basically gone two days into the month
[10:52] @EmikoDesuu55: Gotta use wi-fi
[10:52 @EmikoDesuu55: To reach my wi-fu
[10:54] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Dork :P
[10:54] @KaibaAoiOfficial: <3
[10:54] @EmikoDesuu55: <3
[10:55] @EmikoDesuu55: I wanna help in any way I can, so if you have the app I can
[10:55] @EmikoDesuu55: If something happens you can ask me for help!
[10:55] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Okay, okay I’ll get the app
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
[10:58] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Installed
[10:58] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I’m glad you’re not mad anymore, Emiko-chan
[10:58] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I missed just chatting like this…
[10:59] @EmikoDesuu55: Dork :P
[10:59] @EmikoDesuu55: <3
[10:59] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Eheheh <3
[11:02] @EmikoDesuu55: Have you bought the clothes I linked you?
[11:03] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Yeah and I’ve been wearing them
[11:03] @KaibaAoiOfficial: But I dunno, it feels weird
[11:03] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I’m not used to frilly and girly stuff like this
[11:04] @EmikoDesuu55: you’ll get used to it
[11:04] @KaibaAoiOfficial: manager-san said I should just keep being me :P
[11:04] @KaibaAoiOfficial: that I don’t need to dress different or try being a normal idol
[11:05] @EmikoDesuu55: >_> manager-san, manager-san
[11:05] @EmikoDesuu55: but the clothes are cute, right? I think you look cute in them
[11:07] @KaibaAoiOfficial: (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
[11:07] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I don’t mind wearing them
[11:08] @EmikoDesuu55: <3
[11:08] @EmikoDesuu55: I hope you wear them to our date as well
[11:08] @KaibaAoiOfficial: >///<
[11:09] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I thought it was just a normal meetup!
[11:11] @EmikoDesuu55: Kaiba-san… I basically confessed earlier, right?
[11:11] @EmikoDesuu55: So it’s not like I can pretend anymore…
[11:12] @KaibaAoiOfficial: …like a relationship date…? as in girlfriend?
[11:12] @KaibaAoiOfficial: …I dunno if I’m ready for that, Emiko-chan
[11:12] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I’m not even sure I like girls yet…
[11:13] @EmikoDesuu55: Let me help you find out ( ಠ‿<)
[11:15] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Relationships are also illegal for idols, you know that right?
[11:15] @EmikoDesuu55: We can be sneaky~~
[11:15] @EmikoDesuu55: Come on! Makes your heart go crazy fast, no?
[11:19] @KaibaAoiOfficial: >_> <_< >_> they’ll catch us
[11:19] @EmikoDesuu55: Uwwwaaa, but that means you want to, right???
[11:20] @KaibaAoiOfficial: …I’m very happy you’re saying these things.
[11:20] @KaibaAoiOfficial: really am.
[11:20] @KaibaAoiOfficial: feels like a dream that somebody would want to go out with me.
[11:20] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I didn't think I would ever feel happy like this.
[11:20] @KaibaAoiOfficial: ……
[11:20] @KaibaAoiOfficial: But I shouldn’t, very dangerous for my career >_>
[11:20] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Manager-san has said so over and over
[11:20] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I kinda want to try, to see what it's like, but….sorry
[11:22] @EmikoDesuu55: Pffff, manager-san, manager-san
[11:22] @EmikoDesuu55: I bet she’s single and lonely
[11:24] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I’m not sure, I think she is single at least…yeah
[11:24] @EmikoDesuu55: You wanna end up like that?
[11:24] @EmikoDesuu55: Telling others they should be single and lonely like you?
[11:26] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I think she just works too much for dating
[11:26] @EmikoDesuu55: So she wants you to be married to the job just like she is
[11:26] @EmikoDesuu55: We can just go on a single date and if you dont like it then we can stop
[11:26] @EmikoDesuu55: Besides, we’re both girls, right? They’ll think you’re meeting a friend
[11:29] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I guess so… yeah
[11:29] @KaibaAoiOfficial: We can meet just once
[11:29] @KaibaAoiOfficial: But dont do anything weird!
[11:31] @EmikoDesuu55: Like hug you or kiss you or…?
[11:31] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Emiko-chan! I mean it!
[11:32] @EmikoDesuu55: We can just have a coffee somewhere, okay?
[11:32] @KaibaAoiOfficial: That sounds fine
[11:32] @EmikoDesuu55: And if it goes well we can go to the bathroom and… ಠ ‿↼
[11:33] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I’M AT WORK!!!!!!
[11:33] @KaibaAoiOfficial: What if somebody looked at my screen!
[11:34] @EmikoDesuu55: like you should be chatting at work in the first place :P
[11:34] @KaibaAoiOfficial: I am simply interacting with a loyal fan ^^
[11:35] @EmikoDesuu55: Ooooooo, I see, I see
[11:35] @EmikoDesuu55: I hope you don’t treat all your fans the same way!
[11:36] @KaibaAoiOfficial: Only you <3
[11:36] @EmikoDesuu55: <3
[11:37] @KaibaAoiOfficial: alwdjkawdlajwkd
[11:37] @KaibaAoiOfficial: manage ra here gotta gog
[11:39] @EmikoDesuu55: I’ll be quiet!
----------------------------------------
Your stern facade breaks away as you read through these final messages and you can’t help but glance over your shoulder at Kaiba – who had been peeking to observe your reaction, but quickly hides her face between her arms again.
This is a lot.
Kaiba's gonna have a lot of sleepless nights remembering the time she allowed her boss to read a chat like this.
More importantly, it seems like Kaiba-san accidentally shared the existence of the new idols with this girl.
Not only is the proper announcement of a new idol vital to jumpstart their career, it’s also a major marketing event for the agency to show that the business is healthy and able to acquire and support new talent.
If EmikoDesu55 truly has malicious intentions and sold off the info for a heavy profit, then you she’d do more than just spoil the new idols out of a proper start.
You could then also expect paparazzi to show up in front of Matsuno HQ tomorrow to catch a glance of these new idols.
You might even have to cancel the trip entirely; it could be too risky.
However, people will want to know why you suddenly cancelled and you’d better have a good excuse, because you certainly can’t tell the truth – that’d be the end of Kaiba’s career.
There’s also no doubt you’ll lose face within the company, but that’s the least of your concerns.
The whole intention behind the trip was to covertly waylay Kaiba’s meet-up, but since you’ve now visibly read Kaiba’s chat messages you can try to bar her exposure to EmikoDesu55 in a different way.
Hell, you could even respond to EmikoDesu55 yourself here and now.
Furthermore, EmikoDesu55 seems to try and press Kaiba-san into taking pictures.
There’s nothing wrong with taking pictures of fun, company events, but they shouldn’t be shared with outsiders who can then publish them in something like a gossip article called: “A Steamy Encounter - A Hidden Peek Into Matsuno Inc’s Hot Spring Getaway.”
It seems like this EmikoDesu55 has even been trash talking you as well. The nerve.
“I have friends, y’know,” you say without taking your eyes from the screen, “I’m not lonely.”
You’re really not. You do fun stuff sometimes. Honest. You own a cat.
The grooming continues unabated, EmikoDesu55 seems determined to twist Kaiba-san into somebody conforming to her liking like some sort of dress-up doll.
This is the only bit that’s hard to place.
If Emiko’s true intention is to acquire internal info from Matsuno Inc, then why would she risk alienating Kaiba with complaints or suggestions about Kaiba’s appearance?
The entire conversation carries flirty undertones and even a outright confession.
Though you wouldn’t be surprised if it’s completely fake and simply used to emotionally shake-up Kaiba with something a girl like her probably considered monumental.
What is surprising is that Kaiba-san was ready to participate in this farce even if it meant risking her career.
Is she really in love? They haven’t even met!
She might be in love with the idea of love.
Eager to experience something she has never had before.
You might need to move-up an appointment, this girl needs therapy.
There’s also a chance, however unlikely it may seem, that Kaiba-san is actually romantically interested in girls.
Good for her if she is, but idols shouldn’t be dating to begin with, so it should be inconsequential.
That hornet’s nest will have to wait for another time.
You have to try and save Kaiba’s career first.