Chapter Text
Tomoe Tsurugi sat seiza on a cushion in her living room, sipping a cup of tea. She heard footsteps down the hall, followed by the sound of the paper door sliding open.
“Tsurugi-san,” the voice of her assistant, Kokoro, said, “a message just came in from AstroCorp.”
“AstroCorp?” she said. “Read it to me.”
“‘Dear Tsurugi-san,
“‘AstroCorp has made an incredible discovery. As one of our major shareholders, we believe it is in your best interests to be made aware of this. Due to the nature of this discovery, we wish to withhold the specifics from public knowledge for the time being. Therefore, we have decided to omit that information from this message. Instead, we invite you to our corporate offices in Tokyo to discuss the matter in person.
“‘The meeting is planned to take place this Friday, April 3rd, at 9:00 a.m. AstroCorp is willing to pay for any travel and lodging expenses you will need.
“‘Sincerely, Ishinomori-san, CEO of AstroCorp’”
Tomoe took another sip of her tea before setting the cup down on the floor.
“Prepare my jet,” she said. “We will leave for Tokyo tomorrow.”
“Right away, Tsurugi-san.” Kokoro stepped out of the room and moved quickly back down the hall. Tomoe picked up her shinai from beside her and stood up. She stepped out of the living room and stopped by the staircase.
“Kagami,” she called up.
“Yes, mother?” her daughter’s voice responded.
“I have a meeting back in Tokyo later this week. I expect you to accompany me home.”
“I will begin packing immediately, mother.”
“Then you’d best be quick. If I’m going to be ready by Friday, we’ll have to leave tomorrow.” Tomoe took a step away from the stairs, but Kagami called back down again.
“Mother...if it’s acceptable...I might like to invite a friend.”
“Is this ‘friend’ that Marinette girl? I told you, she’s a bad influence.”
“Please, Mother. I care very deeply for her, and so does Adrien. I’m sure she would enjoy it.”
Tomoe pursed her lips and turned away.
“If you let me invite Marinette, I promise I’ll train as hard as I can when we get back.”
Tomoe paused to consider the proposition. “You promise?”
“Yes, mother, I promise.”
“Very well. She may come if she wishes.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Gabriel Agreste stared at the e-mail on his computer screen. Nathalie stood behind him, reading over his shoulder.
“Will you be going to this meeting, sir?” Nathalie said.
“I will admit, my curiosity is piqued.” Gabriel said, “If it’s so important that Ishinomori-san invited me personally to discuss the issue, then maybe it’s important enough for me to go. At the same time, this isn’t exactly my area of expertise. Besides, I have Adrien, as well as my...business here. Perhaps I would do better to simply inquire more about its financial ramifications and deal with the matter from home.”
“If I may say so, perhaps it would be worthwhile to attend. Even if the discovery proves lucrative, it may be important to consider its effects on your public image, should you maintain your investment.”
“You do have a point there, Nathalie.”
“Besides, it could very well be something relevant to your...business here.”
Gabriel smiled at that. “Well then, I suppose I should go after all. Get in touch with Adrien’s school, and tell them that I’ll be taking him out of classes for a week.”
“Yes, sir.” Nathalie stepped out of Gabriel’s atelier, leaving him alone. Gabriel looked down at a framed photograph of Emilie.
“Soon, my dear, we shall be a family again.”
Marinette stood in the shadow of Tomoe Tsurugi’s jet as the staircase lowered from the door. Kagami put her hand on Marinette’s shoulder.
“Are you nervous, Marinette?” she asked. “I know this will be your first time on a private jet.”
“What?” Marinette replied, “No, I’m not nervous about that. Well, I mean, I am a bit nervous about that, I suppose, but that’s the least of my worries.” Marinette and Kagami started up the stairs together.
“Well then, what are you worried about?”
“Well, it’s just that last time I went overseas, I was robbed, got lost, and then a giant monster attacked the city, and...” Marinette gesticulated wildly as she spoke, then dropped her hands as she trailed off.
“I see. Your apprehension is natural, Marinette, but your experience in Tokyo will not be a repeat of Shanghai. I will see to it personally.”
“Thanks, Kagami.” They entered the cabin. The walls were painted a pale orange, and the floor was carpeted in red. There were four tables, each with four white reclining chairs. Tomoe sat alone at the front-right table, placing her right next to the cockpit door. Kagami took out her phone and sent a quick message. Marinette’s phone buzzed.
“I’m afraid I can’t assuage any fears in that department, unfortunately,” the message read. Marinette silently giggled as she and Kagami took a seat at the rear left table. Kagami grabbed a small box off of the table and opened it.
“Have you ever played koi-koi before?” Kagami asked as she took out a stack of hanafuda cards.
“No, I haven’t,” Marinette said.
“Would you like me to teach you? I think it’d be a fun way to pass the time.”
“Sure!”
Adrien sat silently at a table across from his father on their private jet.
“Now, Adrien.” Gabriel said, “We may not be here for a public event, but this is still important business, and you are still representing me and the brand.”
“I understand, Father. I will be on my best behavior.”
“Excellent, Adrien.”
“Attention, company,” the pilot said on the intercom, “we are coming in on our destination. Please fasten your seatbelts now and prepare for landing.” Adrien and Gabriel both fastened their seatbelts, and Adrien watched out the window as the plane descended past the clouds and taxied to a stop on the runway.
Marinette and Kagami walked down the stairs side-by-side, as they had when boarding the plane. As Marinette looked around, she saw a jet on the next runway over, with a distinctive G on the side of the fuselage.
“Uh, Kagami?” Marinette whispered, a hint of dread in her voice, “Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?”
“If you think you’re seeing what I think you think you’re seeing, then yes.”
“Did you know about this?” Marinette pointed at the jet.
“I had no idea. I don’t even know what he would be doing here.”
“Oh, this is going to be a disaster! If Adrien finds out that I’m here, he’s gonna try and hang out with me, but I still can’t even form a sentence around him, so I won’t be able to do anything, and then there’s your history with him—”
“Marinette, it’s going to be fine.” Kagami put a hand on Marinette’s shoulder. “I’ll be with you all the way.” Marinette took a deep breath and slumped her shoulders. She turned to look at Kagami and smiled.
“Thanks, Kagami.”
“Look, he’s getting off the plane now."
Marinette turned back to the plane and, sure enough, Adrien was walking down the stairs from the airplane door onto the runway. His messenger bag was slung over his shoulder, and he was staring at his own feet. He glanced upwards and saw Kagami and Marinette standing on the next runway over. Marinette tried to avoid meeting his eyes but failed quickly. Adrien smiled and waved, and Marinette blushed. Gabriel stepped down next to Adrien and put a hand on his back, silently instructing him to move along. Adrien’s face dropped back down, and he went along with his father.
“Come on, Marinette. There’s so much to see and so little time.” Kagami took Marinette by the hand, and the two walked away from the plane.
On a street near the edge of Chiyoda City, there was a rather ordinary sushi cart, with what seemed to be rather ordinary clientele. Ordinary, that is, except for one young man, whose burgundy leather jacket stood out amongst the black suits seated on either side of him. Still, no one paid him any mind as he ate his tuna nigiri. As he picked up his last piece, his pocket suddenly beeped. He put the sushi down, took a silver device out of his jacket, and surreptitiously looked at the screen. He smirked as he put the device back in his pocket and stood up, leaving some money on the counter before walking up to a nearby motorcycle.
“Well then,” he said, moving the helmet from the seat to his head. “Let’s go.” He kickstarted the bike and drove away.