Run from it, hide from it.
The workweek arrives all the same.
You send a quick message to Kitabayashi on Friday evening to ask how things went, but she was very evasive but said she'd tell you all about it in person -- during work.
For breakfast you scarf down a bunch of strawberries you found beside your bedside when you woke up back in the hospital.
The fact that they haven't gone bad after more than a week hints at their quality, but they probably won't keep much longer.
Into the trusty Renault Twingo and off to the office.
Once there you saw good morning to Matsui, who is looking a bit better, and head into your office.
A quick glance at your calendar tells you that you have that sketchy Cupid-san Shintaro show on the agenda, one of the deals you had to make when dealing with the fallout of Kaiba's scandal.
That's on Thursday and you have a meeting with Handa Ako on Tuesday.
The rest of the week is free to fill in.
Independant practice
>Enatsu's Mari's looks have increased by 3.
>Kaiba Aoi's personality has increased by 7.
>Chigusa Iki's vocal skills have increased by 1 (Maxed).
> Budget: $105.500
> Date: May 25, 2015 (Monday, Week 21)
> Calendar event: Recording at Cupid-san Shintaro (Enatsu), Meeting up with Handa Ako (Tuesday)
>
> Time ticks forever onwards.
> What’s your plan for the next week?
>
> Every week an idol’s stress is automatically reduced by 30.
>
> Manager Task: Nagata Miho
> Planned: Meeting With Handa Ako
> >1 - Write-in
>
> Idol Task: Kaiba Aoi (90 Stress)
> >1 - Have Kaiba work on her LOOKS (40 stress, 3d100, DC34)
> >1 - Have Kaiba work on her VOCALS (40 stress, 3d100, DC32)
> >1 - Have Kaiba work on her DANCE (40 stress, 3d100, DC21)
> >1 - Have Kaiba work on her ACTING (40 stress, 3d100, DC58)
> >1 - Have Kaiba work on her PERSONALITY (40 stress, 3d100, DC40)
> >2 - Ask Matsui to find some work appropriate for Kaiba Aoi
> >3 - Tell her to take a week off (-50 stress)
> >4 - Write-in
>
> Idol Task: Enatsu Mari (70 Stress)
> Planned: Recording at Cupid-san Shintaro
>
> Idol Task: Chigusa Iki (40 Stress)
> >1 - Have Chigusa work on her LOOKS (40 stress, 3d100, DC48)
> >1 - Have Chigusa work on her DANCE (40 stress, 3d100, DC47)
> >1 - Have Chigusa work on her ACTING (40 stress, 3d100, DC25)
> >1 - Have Chigusa work on her PERSONALITY (40 stress, 3d100, DC44)
> >2 - Ask Matsui to find some work appropriate for Chigusa Iki
> >3 - Tell her to take a week off (-50 stress)
> >4 - Write-in
Enatsu might be booked up, but it'll be best to continue sending Chigusa and Kaiba to jobs.
You send Matsui a message to prepare some jobs, but are hit with an automated reply that she's in a meeting with upper management at the moment.
You'll just have to focus on other stuff until she's back.
Hours pass and the lunchbreak arrives.
Morning tasks completed, it's time to attend an important meeting during your lunch hour.
It might be the most important meeting of the day.
----------------------------------------
"...And then what happened?" you say, anxiously stirring your tea.
You're in Kitabayashi's HR office, chatting about what happened last Friday.
There's large pile of paperwork sitting on Kitabayashi desk that she has no trouble ignoring for as long as possible.
"Well," says Kitabayashi, "We did go there to eat, so that's what we did, but the real reason I took her there is because this maid café has all these special services you see."
"Special services?" you ask, leaning in, "Like what?"
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"You can like get your picture taken with a maid and together do the heart sign thing, or she'll write some little message with ketchup on your food, or lovey-dovey feed you your meal, or you can pay them to sit with you for a bit and have coffee together... OR..." says Kitabayashi.
"...Yes...?" you say, searching Kitabayashi's grin for clues.
Kitabayashi slams a desk with the flat of her hand, causing you to yelp, "Eep!"
"Kabedon," says Kitabayashi, "For a small fee a maid will pin you against the wall and get really close."
"...I see," you say, faking a cough to recollect yourself, "And did Kaiba take that?"
"She didn't want to at first," says Kitabayashi, "I feel a little bad about it, but I had to spend a good while pushing her before she gave in and tried it."
"After that it went about as well as you expect," says Kitabayashi, with a playful shrug, "They had this kind-of gyaru like girl, really fierce-like, and Kaiba melted away on the spot," adds Kitabayashi, "Kaiba has zero defence. If the maid had asked Kaiba to come home with her, I think she would've."
"Yui..." you say, giving her a halting look.
"Sorry, sorry," says Kitabayashi, "Too much info, I guess."
Your life is perfectly fine without knowing what turns on your idols, thank you.
"I mean, maybe she was just shy?" you say, "If somebody did that to me, then I wouldn't know what to do either."
Like back during the hot spring trip, when Watase did that exact thing to the employee there.
"So, what happened after?" you add.
"We got kicked out," says Kitabayashi.
"Hah?" you say, perplexed, "Why?!"
"Kaiba was a bit too into it," says Kitabayashi, laughing, "I don't know if it was just instinct or whatever, but she ran her leg down the outside of the maid's thigh. In the middle of a restaurant!"
"What!?" you cry, "Our Kaiba-chan? Terminally shy Aoi-chan!?"
"Amazing, right?" laughs Kitabayashi, "The maid had a good sense of humour about it. Kaiba's lucky she's a girl, I guess. But the manager was furious. The maids can touch you, but you can't touch them. We got thrown out instantly."
"Uwaa...." you say, blushing from the second-hand embarrassment.
"As you can expect, Kaiba spent the rest of the evening hiding in her room," says Kitabayashi.
"...Yeah, I can imagine, I'd be hidden away all weekend at the least..." you say in a small voice, your head hiding between your shoulders.
"I forced her to go back the next day," replies Kitabayashi with a smile.
"Eeeeh!?" you say, "You sadist!"
"For a proper apology," continues Kitabayashi, "Besides, I couldn't let things end like that. The first time she had the courage to physically respond, and she got shouted at and thrown out? Can't have that."
You sigh, "...You sure are taking this all very seriously..."
Personally, even. Like she's trying to right a past wrong.
"It all ended well," says Kitabayashi, "We brought the staff some cookies and cakes as a gift, we did the proper bow and apology thing, and I had a short chat with the manager. It's all worked out."
"Ha...." you say, a deep sigh aimed at your feet, "Remind me to never agree to something like this again."
You look towards Kitabayashi, "Where is Kaiba now?"
"She went to the maid cafe," says Kitabayashi.
Hah?
----------------------------------------
"...It's too much," pleads Kaiba.
"Hoo...?" says the tan maid with sadistic undertones, "You paid for this special service, Master."
"Come on, open up for me~" adds the maid.
"Please... I can't take anymore," begs Kaiba, "I'm all filled u-HAMPF!"
"Good. Only a little bit left," says the maid.
"mMmMpf," protests Kaiba.
"Make sure to swallow," commands the maid.
Kaiba doubts she'll ever order the "spoonfeeding" service again.
----------------------------------------
"She's getting lunch," says Kitabayashi, "To be fair, the food wasn't bad."
"Huh? Really?" you say, "I'll ask her about it some other time. Should probably go back to work."
"Sure, sure," says Kitabayashi, then points at you as she remembers something, "Oh. That livestreaming thing is really spreading, isn't it? Half a dozen girls are at it already."
"Yeah," you say, placing your hands in your side, "Not that I'm noticing anything for introducing it."
"Aww..." says Kitabayashi, pouting playfully, "Hard work doesn't pay. Let you in on a secret though."
"Oh?" you say, "What is it?"
Kitabayashi points to a pile of paperwork over on her desk, "You see that?" she says, walking over to stand beside it, "All new contracts and regulations. Wanna take a wild guess what for?"
"Hm..." you say, lightly shaking your head, "New employees? New contract for all current employees because of changed laws? I wouldn't know."
"Contracts," she says, slapping the pile, "For male idols."
"Male?" you say, "Matsuno Inc. has never had male idols."
"Starting from July first, we will have," says Kitabayashi, then sighs, "It's a giant headache. All these contingencies. What if there's sexual harassment? What if a male and female idol hook up? What if the girl gets pregnant? All these edge-cases."
"Aren't just female idols enough," you say, "I didn't even know there was a big market for male idols."
"Comparatively, there isn't," explains Kitabayashi, "But it's an emerging market and Matsuno Inc. wants to establish themselves in it before it's too late."
You think for a moment.
"You know, Yui-chan, I've always been impressed with how confident you are when it comes to work stuff," you say, gracing her with a playful smile, "Almost an entirely different person."
"Ho?" says Kitabayashi, standing a little taller, "Falling for me, are you? Getting you all hot and bothered?"
You roll your eyes, "...Sure" you say sarcastically, then turn to leave, "I should go back to work."
"Can I try the kabedon thing on you?" cries Kitabayashi hurriedly from behind.
"Goooodbyyyee, Yuiii!" you say, closing the door behind you.