Tokyo Wingman King

"Asama, Asama~ I have good news~~~"

Fujiwara Ai's voice sounded as if it were the only place in all of Tokyo where it wasn't raining.

"Are you going abroad again?"

Judging from the cheerfulness of her voice, perhaps she's in Hawaii? Most Japanese people, regardless of their wealth, love Hawaii, a place filled with Japanese slogans; it's practically a national spiritual resort for Japan.

"My bride training isn't over yet! Why go abroad? Going abroad is for the honeymoon. Wait, let me tell you, I have a little follower now."

Is it just to show off?

Asama felt sorry for his former department head, who was clearly very intelligent but always did stupid things.

"Wow, that's impressive. No wonder you're the former minister."

After giving a sarcastic and ambiguous compliment, Asama continued,

"So, this is the good news you were talking about?"

"Hmph, why don't you guess who my little follower is?"

"For me, the fact that you let that unlucky guy go is good news."

"Strange! Asama Asama, didn't you have a whole bunch of followers yourself? Nijo Rena's boyfriend, the disgusting otaku from the Hoshino family, the thug from the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department's family, the sissy from the Togami family, the freak from the Ryuzaki family, and even a whole bunch of random female followers, and you still have the nerve to criticize me?"

Asama frowned, once again realizing the weight of the statement, "[Fujiwara Ai looks down on others, and is looked down upon by others]," which had been endorsed by Masumi Ichijo, Haruka Hououin, and others.

“Former Minister Fujiwara, these people are all my friends. You’d better show them some respect.”

Fujiwara Ai let out a soft laugh, like a whale spouting water, on the other end of the phone.
"Hey, I didn't say it was wrong for you to have followers, but being too ambitious can make life boring. Don't believe those old men's nonsense and let them boss you around. People like us should set an example in fighting for personal freedom, doing what we really want to do and what's interesting, instead of being puppets spouting about awareness, responsibility, and a sense of mission that the previous generation didn't even achieve."

Asama, Asama, with your talent, even without pandering to those old fogies, what's meant to be yours will still be yours. If even those of us with the potential to soar are living in birdcages, then this world is utterly hopeless.

Asama rubbed his temples.
"I have no interest in listening to either the lecturing of old men or the lecturing of young girls."

"Why did Asama listen to those old geezers and suddenly leave Eiwa to pursue further studies?"

Fujiwara Ai still harbored resentment over the fact that Asama had dropped out of school shortly after she returned to Eiwa, Japan. She always suspected that Asama was not so much listening to the older generation as avoiding her.

"[Listening to others' advice] and [listening to others' lectures] are two different things. I hope you can distinguish between them."

"The things about taking on followers and lecturing others, aren't they all things you learned from Asama Asama? A while ago you even lectured me [Do something serious!] If learning from you is wrong, does that mean you're not serious?"

"It's your freedom to learn from whomever you choose, but you can't blame your problems on others. Your logic is like the Khmer Rouge saying to the Soviet Union: 'Weren't our collectivization, class struggle, and Great Purge all learned from you?'"

Treating making friends as recruiting followers, and offering advice as lecturing, only proves that former Captain Fujiwara, your comprehension needs improvement, your practical skills need strengthening, and your values ​​need revision.

"."

The sophist Fujiwara Ai was defeated by the sophist Asama Shizumizu, who possessed various persuasive buffs, but this did not dampen her good mood. She smiled and said...

"As expected of Asama, the one I've chosen~ I won't beat around the bush, my little follower is the princess of the Izumo family~ Izumo~ family~~~"

"What Izumo family?"

"Playing dumb won't work, Asama Asama. That matter is already a semi-public secret! The princess of the Izumo family, no, now it should be the Yamagata family's Yamagata group, is also undergoing bride training here."

That princess was certainly not Pochi, who was still doing his homework in the apartment at that moment.

Asama knew that the princess of the Yamagata Group—the child of Pochi's father's new wife and her ex-husband—as the child of Mrs. Yamagata, she did not take her mother's surname Yamagata, but instead took her adoptive father's surname Yamagata.

Yes, Pochi's father also changed his surname, but it wasn't considered marrying into the family. The dignified third-generation head of the Izumo family didn't take his wife's surname, Yamagata; instead, he combined Yamagata and Izumo into a new surname, Yamagumo. Such casual surname changes were a privilege of the Japanese upper class.

This girl, now known as Mao Yamagumi, previously lived in Akasaka. After her parents divorced, she moved to Edogawa with her remarried mother, then took a break from school for a while before transferring to Pochi's alma mater, Maria Girls' Academy, at the beginning of this month.

As for why Yamagumi Mao took another break from school and met Fujiwara Ai at the place where the bride was training, Asama had no way of knowing.

Logically speaking, a girl who cannot even inherit the Yamagata family name should not have the opportunity to be classmates with Fujiwara-cho.

Insufficient information.

Before Pochi intended to return to the Izumo family, Asama had little interest in learning about Pochi's sister, whom he had never met, so Komaba's investigation was only superficial.

"Minister Fujiwara, here's a piece of advice for you: girls your age, instead of spending time collecting followers, you should seriously make friends with one or two girls who you can speak freely with, who share your emotions (foolish resonance), and who share your interests."

"Tsk tsk tsk, Asama Asama means that if I make friends with people of the opposite sex, you'll get jealous, right?~~~?"

Fujiwara Ai's tone carried a hint of playfulness and smugness.

"Does the bride's training contain some secret method to increase her thick skin?"

"Hmph, Asama, Asama, do you think I don't know? You're just trying to change the subject, aren't you?"

"In my eyes, Fujiwara Ai is mentally resilient, unafraid of setbacks, indifferent to the opinions of others, has the courage to be disliked, and is more confident than a rooster crowing at the sun. In any case, she is not thin-skinned."

"Hmph~~~ Have you finally felt my charm?"

Fujiwara Ai clearly didn't take Asama's last half-sentence to heart.

Asama glanced at the time and replied,
"It's great to see that you're in good spirits as always. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."

"Isn't Asama curious? My little follower has been asking you all sorts of questions."

"It has nothing to do with me. Just watch your mouth and don't talk nonsense."

"Phew~ I only didn't talk to her about her sister because of Asama Asama's sake."

Asama remained silent for a moment. Fujiwara Ai's words just now contained far more of a boastful tone than a threat. But how the others who knew about this would cause him trouble was unclear.

Asama suppressed his emotions and said...
"Former Minister Fujiwara, what you talk about with people is your freedom, it has nothing to do with me."

"Eh~~~ Asama Asama's cousin, could she really not Izumo Kateya? They look exactly alike, could it be that I'm remembering wrong?"

"To most Japanese people, blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners all look pretty much the same; this phenomenon is called cross-race prosopagnosia. I suggest that Director Fujiwara travel abroad again and meet more foreigners."

"That's right. The Izumo family is nothing, the foreigners are nothing, and the idiots are nothing. If they weren't Asama Asama's cousin, how could they be so close to Asama Asama? Well, since Asama Asama has said so, then cousin it is. Your cousin is my cousin."

"Who's your cousin?"

“Poch.” “...Your brains are probably all manufactured in the same factory.”

"Humph!"

The other person was clearly angry, but then immediately laughed, as if the snort was just for show.

"Playing dumb won't work, Asama Asama~ Anyway, I'll help you clear up some rumors at the Bride Training Center, such as the fact that you and Konoe the Shorty are related by blood. You should be grateful for that."

No, you'll only make things worse by trying to explain.

"Hello, the signal is bad, hello? I'll hang up now!"

"Don't play dumb! There's one more thing!"

Asama hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not hang up the phone.

"Go ahead."

Sensing Asama's hesitation, Fujiwara Ai let out an enigmatic chuckle. Only after the sound, resembling a motorcycle engine idling, subsided did she resume her conversation.
"Is Asama Asama interested in girls who play golf?"

"Your bridal training program includes golf?"

"Yeah, I don't understand why there are such stupid classes. Just hearing those three words makes me think of that prime minister who has diarrhea rolling around on the green. He does all sorts of cringeworthy things just to please America. It's utterly shameful."

So you skipped class?

"Not yet, it's been raining these past few days. You still haven't answered my question: do you like golf more, or do you like girls who play golf more?"

"I have no interest in any of them."

"As expected of Asama Asama, I can't tell whether what you're saying is true or false."

"Why do you ask?"

"I just find it very strange. Golf is such a bizarre sport. I don't understand who's promoting it. The clubs are all over the place, and the clothes are ugly and tacky, especially those skirts that inevitably show your buttocks but are worn with leggings underneath."
And I have to put up with a bunch of lecherous old men bragging? If they really wanted an audience, wouldn't it be better to install stands on the field? Those confident looks as they crouch to examine the grass, those affected postures of listening to the wind or gesturing for something, those obsequious flattery that seizes every opportunity—and I have to endure these bastards for a whole day?!

Ai Fujiwara fell into a strange, hysterical complaining mode, as if she had been bitten on the head by a golf ball when she was a child.

"So, your golf lessons have some old geezers?"

"That's not the case~"

Fujiwara Ai made an extremely subtle nasal sound.

"Hmm~~~ Since Asama Asama doesn't like playing golf, then there's even less need for me to practice golf. It's fine even if I forget everything I learned before."

"You call yourself a standard-bearer of feminism, Minister Fujiwara, your remarks show you have no sense of responsibility whatsoever, not even a microgram."

"Hmph~ Knowing what you want, instead of being told what you need by others, is the mark of a truly awakened woman. That's why I admire Fufu."

Asama sensed an ironic undertone: someone wearing see-through clothing designed by a gay designer was talking about female power and resisting the male gaze.

“Others at least earn their own living and wouldn’t participate in something like bride training.”

"Support yourself? What's so difficult about that? I know I have the ability, and that's enough. Isn't getting bogged down in that kind of pointless self-proving just a waste of time?"
Furthermore, isn't it a bit too much of a male chauvinist prejudice to label the women who participated in the bride's training as weak, dependent, and objectifying?
I joined the bridal training program because I felt I needed to meet my own standards for a bride. Although half the courses were silly, there were some good parts.

"Then I wish you a speedy marriage, according to your own will."

"Hehe, just you wait!"

The once-spirited Fujiwara, who boasted about writing the world's most authoritative book on love, seems to have returned.

"."

After hanging up the phone with Ai Fujiwara, Asama let out a sigh of relief and returned to the bustling streets.

He casually entered a Matsuya restaurant, found a corner seat, and ordered a beef bowl set meal on the electronic screen.

Fujiwara Ai seemed to still be enjoying the conversation, so she sent another message—

"Super Cute Girl: Asama Asama! There's something else I want to share with you. The girls who come here to train—from prestigious families like Hanazonoin, Tokudaiji, and Yasuda—all attend the Nijou family's banquet. It's hilarious! Is this banquet some kind of massive matchmaking event?"

"Super Cute Girl: (Penguin Laughing.jpg)"

Asama Shizumizu: Didn't you also receive an invitation? Didn't you know?

"Super Cute Girl: The location is set at Meguro Gajoen Garden, that's probably it. The Nijo family really has no originality. I heard that after you stole Takatsukasa's fiancée, a lot of girls are eyeing him now. It might really turn into a Crown Princess selection event."

Asama Shizumizu: Okay, got it. That's enough gossip.

"Super Cute Girl: They say this is the largest youth party in decades. Aren't you curious about what kind of fun things will happen that day?"

"Asama Shizumizu: If you're interested, why don't you see it for yourself? And while you're at it, support your good friend F-san."

"Super Cute Girl: Hmph, I've figured it out. Asama Asama isn't going, which means your friendship with Fufu is just a sham."

"Asama Shizumizu: My friendship with F-san is not as superficial as you think."

"Super Cute Girl: Asama Asama, who has friendships with so many girls, seems like a pretty superficial person no matter how you look at it. (Penguin seriously thinking.jpg)"

"Asama Shizumizu: As a way of reflecting on my actions, I'll break off our friendship for now."

"Super Cute Girl: (Penguin crying.jpg)"

What kind of weird penguin emoji is this? Madagascar?
Asama was more troubled by Pochi's identity than by what he thought about.

Because of Pochi's new identity, not only Komaba helped, but the Nijo family also went through all the documents. Asama had reason to believe that the Five Regents also thoroughly investigated Pochi's personal information during their investigation of him.

But so what?
Asama is not afraid of these people making a fuss about Pochi.

Discipline the father? Return to the family? Sever ties?

Whatever Pochi's wish is, Asama is confident he can fulfill it for her. Of course, her unreasonable desires are excluded.

After finishing the beef bowl and grated daikon radish, and drinking the rich miso soup, the head of the Kujo family sent over the list of [dinner day caregivers].

At first glance, there seems to be no problem. Let me check out Principal KKIS's house first before giving you a reply. (End of Chapter)