Inside the tatami room, I sat facing the Yin-Yang Club's president and vice president, both of whom I had previously mistaken for the masterminds behind the Cherry Blossom Festival disturbance.
Niya hid her face behind her folding fan, her laughter drifting out from behind it. "Niha∼ I'm telling you, I am not some Smug Professor, you know?"
On that point, I reserved judgment.
"In any case," Niya snapped her fan shut, "my name is Amachi Niya, President of the Yin-Yang Club. Hm? You want to say I'm being rude? Not at all, in fact it's quite the opposite."
Niya, who Shizuko called useless, continued her convoluted excuses with unshakable confidence.
"I only act rude because my magnanimity is just sooo tiny. But in reality, I'm a super amazing person. Though that said, I'm very happy to meet you, Schale's Sensei."
By contrast, Kaho introduced herself with practiced formality. "Vice President of the Yin-Yang Club, Kuwakami Kaho. Please take care of us going forward."
"I'm Schale's Sensei. It's a pleasure to meet you both. I look forward to working with you as well."
Niya giggled beside her. "Niha, what a serious reaction."
Don't worry. You'll get to see what I look like when I stop being serious.
"Well then, the situation is pressing, so I'll get straight to the point."
I lifted the warm tea, took a small sip, organized my thoughts, and turned toward the always smiling girl who had summoned me here.
"You should already know why I've been staying in Hyakkiyako these past few days."
"My my, such a direct man? Hmhm∼ Being too direct in conversation can put people off, you know? But I don't mind at all!"
If you don't mind, then don't make such a big speech about it.
Niya replied lightly. "But of course I know. You're helping Tanuki girl from Momoyo Hall protect the festival from troublemakers. Niha∼ I was the one who arranged for Chise to pick you up, so as President of the Yin-Yang Club I obviously know at least that much."
I nodded. "Since that's the case, tell me the true identity of the one who hired the Street Mouryo."
Niya let out a surprised cry. "Eh? You're asking that right away? Isn't that a bit of a leap?"
If she sent Kaho ahead, masked, to bring me here before the Street Mouryo abducted me, what other purpose could this meeting have?
I looked at Niya quietly. She laughed as though she could see through everything.
"Sensei, with such a lack of setup, even I don't know how to continue the conversation. And more importantly, you've rendered all the lines I prepared for this meeting completely useless. Sensei, could it be that your true nature is this cruel? Hm, that's a little disappointing."
Such a troublesome girl. No wonder Shizuko insisted I come with her before she dared ask Niya for help.
I figured there was still time, so there was no need to rush. "Then go ahead. I'll listen carefully."
Niya laughed triumphantly. "Niha, since Sensei is so impatient, I'll keep it short∼"
Another note: she had a slightly twisted sense of humor and seemed to enjoy contradicting others.
"To begin with, our Yin-Yang Club had no intention of getting involved in this matter at all. Sensei, Tanuki girl should have already told you our club's guiding principle, right?"
Tanuki girl naturally referred to Chise. I nodded, recalling her complaints.
The Yin-Yang Club's principle was to avoid meddling in anything… no, to maintain balance within Hyakkiyako.
Niya continued. "Mmhm∼ since you already know, I won't go into detail. In any case, even with things currently a liiittle bit beyond expectations, our Yin-Yang Club still won't provide any military support."
"Beyond expectations meaning what?" I frowned.
"In short, the balance has been broken." Niya's smile dimmed slightly. "First, when Chise reported her findings about the culprit to the Yin-Yang Club, I realized that your investigation had completely strayed off track."
I understood immediately. The moment the Smug Professor's name got dragged into the situation, she could no longer sit still.
"If an infamous criminal mastermind known across all of Kivotos might be involved, then the Yin-Yang Club must at least make a minimal response. That's the first reason. The second is that I've received some strange pieces of information. They aren't confirmed yet, but they've made me curious."
Her half hidden phrasing made it clear she was very skilled at evasion.
"And finally, without explaining her identity beforehand, someone brought you here when you should already have been meeting the mastermind and learning their identity. That is a failing on the Yin-Yang Club's part as well, so consider this a special apology from us."
Her explanation felt somewhat forced, but I could take it as a gesture of goodwill from Niya.
I smiled slightly. "Then I'll accept it. Now, who is the mastermind who ordered the Street Mouryo"
"Hmm∼ that part∼" Niya circled around the answer, offering a hint. "From what I know, that person participated in your discussion last night and guided your group's line of thinking."
Someone who qualified to join the strategy meeting, yet was absolutely not trustworthy. Only one person fit that description.
My eyebrow twitched as I rubbed my forehead and sighed. "So it's him. I suspected he was connected to the mastermind, but to think he was the mastermind himself."
Niya tilted her head. "Mmhm? Because of that strange rumor that suddenly popped up? My my, I was surprised too. Maybe he's actually been hiding his true strength all along?"
"We'll find out soon enough when we confront him."
"Niha∼ very true∼"
"In any case, thank you for the information."
I stood. "Then I'll take my leave for today. When the incident is over, I'll visit again."
Niya rose as well and extended her hand. "Niha, then I'll look forward to that visit."
I shook her cool hand, feeling that our first meeting had been surprisingly pleasant, and hoping (though not expecting) that future interactions could remain that way.
But realistically, that was unlikely.
Even at a glance, I could tell Niya's thoughts ran deep. This president of the Yin-Yang Club was not someone easy to deal with. At any moment, one might fall into one of her schemes.
Trying to win her over and savor the taste of that black nail polish she wore would undoubtedly be an arduous task.
After saying goodbye to Niya and Kaho, I stepped out of the teahouse. Even knowing the culprit's identity, I still found it hard to believe.
Yet it was also exactly the sort of answer that made perfect sense.
The president of the shopping district, Date Meowru, really was no good after all.
I typed the news to the others on my phone as I walked toward Momoyo Hall under the midday sun.