> META
> Decisions
>
> The Trip
> >1 - Cancel it. It’s too risky. If EmikoDesu55 leaks data, there’ll be press everywhere.
> >2 - Hope for the best. You can’t cancel, there would be too many questions.
>
> The Leak
> >1 - Mention the possibility of a leak to marketing. Maybe they can do a rush job for a proper announcement for the new idols.
> >2 - Keep quiet about a potential leak and hope for the best.
>
> Talking with EmikoDesu55
> >1 - Contact EmikoDesu55 using the chat and ask for her intentions and perhaps bargain with her.
> >2 - Don’t respond to EmikoDesu55.
>
> Kaiba’s Contact with EmikoDesu55
> >1 - Outright ban it. Shaken up like she is, she might actually stick to it.
> >2 - Allow it, but warn her to never meet up and to longer engage with fans like she did prior
> >3 - Ask her to minimize contact to string Emiko along so she doesn’t get mad and do something stupid
> >4 - Allow her to do whatever she feels is right.
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> The Trip
> >2 - Hope for the best. You can’t cancel, there would be too many questions.
>
> The Leak
> >2 - Keep quiet about a potential leak and hope for the best.
>
> Talking with EmikoDesu55 yourself
> >2 - Don’t respond to EmikoDesu55.
>
> Kaiba’s Contact with EmikoDesu55
> >1 - Outright ban it. Shaken up like she is, she might actually stick to it
> >Explain to Kaiba that Emiko is stringing her up, with examples right from the chat.
> Make it clear we're not angry nor judging her
Whatever it is that is going on between Kaiba and EmikoDesu55.
Whether it’s faked, real, mutual, or one-sided – It has to stop, that much you know.
Kaiba has put her own job and yours at risk by leaking company secrets.
You take a deep breath in order to force some calm into your voice.
“Kaiba-san,” you say, in your warmest voice, “This girl is leading you on, manipulating you, lying to you, forcing her ideal image on you, and trying to squeeze any private company info she can from you. Whatever her intentions, they’re nothing good.”
You rapid fire some examples, “Asking you to take pictures at a hot spring? Discrediting the word of anyone other than herself? Constantly tearing you down, but still trying to get you to meet up?”
Kaiba-san sniffles, “…I’m sorry I shared the image and stuff, I’ll be more careful, but Emiko-chan isn’t that bad… She said on the phone that she suffers from mood swings… it’s not her fault.”
And Kaiba-san buys that? Isn’t that downright gullible?
Why is she so blind to this Emiko’s faults? They’re plain to see!
Even if this Emiko-chan actually does have mood swings, that doesn’t mean Kaiba-san should accept a role as an emotional punching bag.
“Give me your phone,” you say.
“Eh?” replies Kaiba-san, seeming shocked.
“You keep saying you talk on the phone,” you say, “I need to know Emiko-chan’s number in case we need to call her and make her sign a non-disclosure agreement.”
“I’m not angry or anything about what you did,” you say, “But the company can’t simply trust an outsider with confidential information.”
Kaiba-san seems somewhat relieved, nods, and hands you her phone.
You pull out your own and make a show off typing over the number into your phone.
It seems like a perfectly valid option and one Kaiba-san, who really seems to want to believe in Emiko-chan, is ready to believe.
You have absolutely no intention of contacting this Emiko girl.
If she has bad intentions, then calling her would be akin to a fish biting down on a hook!
The only reason for this whole show was to glance at Kaiba-san’s recent calls.
They call almost every night. Sometimes for over an hour.
The calls seem to be made through some kind of internet phone-app, but show up in the phone’s default “recent calls” anyway.
Could this be Emiko’s real number or it just some kind of throwaway?
Regardless, you have a number you can try to reach her on if need be, that’ll suffice.
Most importantly, if Emiko leaks any data then you’ll pass this number off to the police and drag her right down to hell with you.
Fingers crossed that it’s a real number!
This Emiko girl has brought you so much heartache and stress.
She should suffer a little, right? Like you have?
That’s not cruel, it’s justice! Justice!
You also noticed an app with the same name as the platform that Kaiba-san uses for streaming and chat.
Might be worth installing it on your phone just to see if Kaiba-san sticks to her promise over the weekend.
You hand back Kaiba’s phone, “Thank you,” you say, with a smile, “I’ll make sure to meet with legal affairs so we can get something drafted.”
“Thank you,” says Kaiba-san, “Nagata-san. Thank you so much…”
Ah, ignorance really is bliss.
The only thing those lawyers will be doing is drafting a restraining order once this weekend is over and any info Emiko has is no longer a threat.
Or suing her if the girl decides to make use of the info.
You flash Kaiba a quick smile, “It’s my job,” you say, feigning happiness, “But Kaiba-san, I’m sure you understand that until this is handled – no contact with Emiko-chan, okay? It’ll turn into a legal matter so all contact has to be done through Matsuno Inc’s lawyers until the matter is handled.”
Kaiba-san seems genuinely disappointed, but nods, “I get it,” she says, “Emiko-chan will wonder where I’ve gone, but I hope she’ll understand after I explain it to her. After the lawyers are done.”
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“Thank you, Kaiba-san,” you say, “Total ban until then, you understand? Nothing at all! The password to the account will be changed. Don’t take any pictures or anything either or they might think you’re complicit and leaking information on purpose. This’ll be over soon.”
Kaiba wipes away the remnants of her tears with the back of her hands, “Uhm!” she replies, making a small sound of agreement.
“Alright then,” you say, walking to the door, “I’ll be off to get this all handled then.”
“Yes,” replies Kaiba-san, “Thank you again, Nagata-san.”
You linger at the door and wave a dismissive hand, “That’s what managers are for!”
Click. The door shuts behind you as you walk into the hallway.
That toxic relationship has to die, but a hard ban with no sensible reason might’ve caused Kaiba-san to warn EmikoDesu55 or contact her using other methods.
Kaiba-san needed that flicker of hope.
The idea that whatever is going on is only temporary.
You begin the short journey towards your own office as you think over the situation at hand.
Once the weekend passes and Emiko’s ammunition turns into duds, you’ll go in for the kill.
Would the Nagata Miho from a few months back have schemed like this?
Probably not, but it’s necessary, right? It’s justified!
You’re confident you’ve somehow plugged the information leak, but the sharpened axe that is the already shared info still dangles above your neck.
The life or death of your career decided by some college girl and her ‘Enter’ key.
The info Kaiba leaked can potentially put hostile eyes on the participants of the trip.
However, cancelling the trip would raise a lot of questions that you don’t have an answer for and revealing the truth would mean the end of Kaiba’s career.
If the trip happens and EmikoDesu55 leaks the information of the trip then you’d be putting the safety of several idols at risk while also opening them up to various potential scandals.
It’d be very easy for a tenacious, ill-willed paparazzi/fan to climb the walls surrounding the hot spring or to simply fly a drone over and take a few creepshots of your idols trying to enjoy a bath.
A nude picture published of an idol before they are even formally announced?
They haven’t even started and yet their chances at a normal career would go up in flames.
Yet, sacrifice Kaiba’s career in an order to save your own?
No, you won’t. You can’t.
She has done some seriously stupid things that would’ve caused many other managers to cut their losses and forcibly retire their idol.
A young girl’s desire to feel loved for the first time in her life cannot mean the end of her dream.
You won’t accept it.
You’re lying, scheming, and hiding more secrets than ever before.
But Kaiba-san, your idol, is now at ease.
She thinks the problems are being solved, while things are actually worse than they’ve ever been.
Your shoulders feel tight and your pace is unsteady.
The gist of it is: The trip needs to happen.
That stupid girl better be grateful if you all survive this!
The things you do for that girl, the lengths you go to.
Any other manager would probably call you insane!
But you’re not, hehe. Everything is alright!
You’re doing it! Handling things like a true manager!
If anyone learns of what Kaiba did, her career is over.
If anyone learns you allowed the trip to happen whilst knowing about the leak, yours is over.
If anyone acts on the leaked info, Chigusa’s and Enatsu’s chances at a normal career are over.
But those are all “What if?” scenarios!
Just hope for the best.
You’ll push through this with the power of positivity!
Raise your fist and cheer for a brighter tomorrow!
Oooooooo!
As far as the leak itself is concerned, you’re confident that acting on it any way would just arouse suspicion.
This might mean sacrificing the idol announcement of your two new idols, but that’s just something you’ll have to risk.
Just hope for the best.
Things might be uncertain, but just because everything seems to be falling apart doesn’t mean it will.
Murphy’s law states that ‘Anything that can go wrong will go wrong’, but who’s he?
Just some negative-minded guy from the United States, right?
Besides, he’s dead now so that shows how well that negativity worked out for him, hehe!
You’ll shoulder all these things and more for Kaiba-san!
That’s what it means to be a manager, right?
To protect your employees against anything and anyone!
You open the door to your office and get inside.
“Ah? Mihooo~, hello,” says a voice.
“Eh?” you say, “Yui-chan?”
“Come to visit? Fufu~ can’t keep me off your mind?” says Kitabayashi Yui, then reaches into a bag, “Ah, look!”
She holds up what seems to be some kind of cat harness and leash, “When you drop off Azuki tomorrow, I’ll take her outs-- Are you okay? You look very pale…”
You glance at your surroundings, you’re in the HR office. The place you worked for years.
“Ah,” you say, then laugh quietly, “I’m fine, I was just thinking and I walked here on habit, it seems.”
Some kind of droplet hits your white blouse, staining it black.
Kitabayashi Yui casts the cat harness aside and quickly gets up, rushing towards you.
A few more drops hit your shirt.
You wipe at your face, your mascara is running. Tears.
”Eh?” you say, trying your best to save your shirt.
You lean on a nearby desk for support as your legs feel weak.
Kitabayashi closes the distance and, holding you by the shoulders, eases you down to the floor.
Her eyes are wide and her voice is strained, like she’s about to cry, “What’s going on?” she says, “Please, Miho! You can talk to me!”
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/9ae626fd-66a2-4c97-a6e0-5a32e67fcd4f.jpg]
You stare at her with an expression akin to shellshock.
Kitabayashi Yui works for HR.
Coming from HR yourself, you know that HR’s first and foremost interest is the business.
Sharing with her anything that you just learned would make her obligated to defend the interests of the business.
However, knowing Yui-chan she would keep it quiet anyway and by doing so risk her job.
You can’t do that to her.
All you can do is wait. Powerless. Hope for the best.
“I’m fine,” you say, “I’m fine.”
Kitabayashi shakes your shoulders, “You’re not,” she shouts, “Miho, please!”
As you try to take a breath to explain, you find that the air isn’t coming in.
No matter how fast you inhale, there’s nothing there.
You clutch at Kitabayashi’s shirt, hand shaking, as you race through sixty breaths in a minute with nothing to show for it.
Are you dying? Is this what dying is like?
You can’t die, the trip is tomorrow!
What if something goes wrong?
Kitabayashi places her hands on one of your own, “Miho, slowly breathe in through your nose!” she shouts, “It’s probably something like a panic attack, it’ll pass! Breathe slowly!”
Eyes wide and gasping, you do as Kitabayashi says and after a few minutes, that feel like hours, your breathing returns to normal.
You thank her for the help, but refuse to give any explanation.
You can’t.
In the all the years you’ve known her, you don’t think you’ve ever seen Kitabayashi that angry with you.
After visiting the ladies' room to freshen up, you return to your office and quickly change the password to Kaiba-san’s chat and streaming account and install the accompanying app on your phone and login.
There’s a series of heavy knocks at the door, like somebody pelted it with rocks.
You open it and find a large man from security waiting outside with Matsui-san standing beside him, eyeing you in concern.
Apparently, your workday is over and you’re send home to rest.
You plead with Matsui-san for a moment and ask her to keep what happened quiet from Kaiba-san, there’s no need to alarm her.
The large man from security then herds you away from your office.
Thankfully, you manage to convince him that you’ll walk to the exit by yourself to avoid making a scene and causing rumours.
Darn it, Yui-chan.
You still had work to do.