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“Big bro, you gotta help me!”
Wise pinched the bridge of his nose, and clenched his eyes shut. Whenever Belle was frantic like this, it was never good. “What did you do?”
“The Second Assistant is, to use the vernacular, in the ‘finding out’ phase.” Fairy explained, “Certain targets were able to ascertain that scandalous photographs of them could have only come from highly secured surveillance, and that only one agency had the means to acquire them and the desire to have them published.”
Wise’s mind clicked to the events of two days ago, when New Eridu Style dropped their “Best Racks” list. Wise had been more focused on defusing Zhu Yuan’s fear that someone might reach the conclusion she had managed to leverage those photographs, he had overlooked that Belle had seemed… oddly prescient of the coming storm.
Until that moment. With a groan, he said, “Belle… you didn’t…”
“I was trying to take the heat off Zhu Yuan!” Belle protested, “You saw how miserable she was! I… didn’t think anyone would figure out Phaethon was responsible! At least… not this quickly!”
Wise’s eyes narrowed. He had the sinking feeling that he didn’t want to ask, but at the same time, he rather had to. “What do you mean by ‘this quickly,’ Belle?”
At that point, his phone buzzed with an incoming message notification. He held up one finger towards Belle and opened up Knock-Knock.
> Hoshimi Miyabi: The routine sweep of Hollow Melinoe for tomorrow is temporarily suspended. I will update you when we have set a new date.
> Wise: Are these orders from on high? What’s wrong?
> Hoshimi Miyabi: No. Deputy Chief Tsukishiro Yanagi does not want to work with you at this time. I believe her exact words were, “If I walk into that Hollow with him, we’re all going to find out if its possible to strangle someone to death through a bangboo.” I do not know the cause of her ire, but until I can sort everything out, your commission is on pause.
> Wise: I actually know exactly the cause of her ire. Assure her that I wasn’t responsible, and that I will make sure that the proper person receives due punishment.
He didn’t get the chance to see what Miyabi’s response was, as he was distracted by a loud bang on Random Play’s front door, and Koleda’s angry bellow that echoed through the store.
“I don’t care which one of you it was, or if it was both of ya, but if I have to unbolt this door to get in there, ya both are going to be in for twice the whooping you’ve got comin’ to ya!”
This was followed by an equally angry and loud challenge from outside the same door.
“Hah! You may flay whatever is left of them once I am through with them!” Lucy shouted. “So, you two miscreants may as well just open this door so I can do proper justice!”
“I was here first! Take a number and get in line, pipsqueak!”
“Pipsqueak? You’re shorter than I am, runt!”
“Runt? Why I oughta…”
Wise rushed to the front door, swiftly opening the locks that Belle must had set in her rush back home, and hissed at both women, “Get inside before the both of you make an even bigger scene. While I am going to get PubSec involved, I’d rather it be a specific officer than a complaint patrol.”
Surprisingly, both Lucy and Koleda complied without retort, and Wise rubbed his forehead as if it would ward off the migraine that was coming. He was going to need to call a lot of people and coordinate a get-together that he had not been planning for on very short notice.
Belle and Wise could never seem to plan a get-together seamlessly to save their lives even given weeks to prepare, and ostensibly in a situation where everyone wanted to be there. Yet, they could somehow manage to get all parties on the same page in a matter of six hours about a topic that next to everyone would have rather not addressed ever again.
Make that make sense.
Over the next hour, Wise unraveled the entire story, the motivations, and the ramifications therein.
“Well, at least I am glad that there were no bad-faith actors at play here,” Rina said amiably. “I can only imagine how badly it could have all gone if such access was in the wrong hands.”
“Yes, I suppose everyone involved was acting with… somewhat… of good intentions,” Yanagi added, even as she gave Belle a scathing side eye. Then she addressed Wise more apologetically, “And… I suppose I don’t need to choke you through Eous.”
“Eh nah ne,” Eous said quietly. (Can you do it anyway?)
Wise glared at the bangboo, who blushed on its display and rubbed the back of its head.
“I still do not understand what the problem is,” Miyabi said flatly, earning disbelieving and aghast stares from pretty much everyone else.
“While the Cunning Hares have profited from this, I can also see why it has not been welcomed for others,” Nicole said. “I assume we are all assembled here to try and reach a mutually beneficial resolution?”
“Yes, I assume that’s why you called us all here,” Zhu Yuan said, stealthily squeezing Wise’s hand in support before letting go. “How should we handle this going forward? I’m not content with no longer being the center of attention if it merely means others are going to be in the crosshairs.”
Wise looked down at his phone, “Well, I requested the presence of a… consultant, that I think will be able to help us navigate this, but she’s running late, it would seem. This isn’t surprising, but I’d rather not progress any further with the planning until she can offer her expertise.”
Fortunately, his words seemed to almost conjure her presence, as a short knock on the door prompted Belle to open the lock to allow their latest guest entry. With a flourish, Astra Yao stepped inside, flipping off her sunglasses, and asking brightly, “So very sorry, it was torture finding the opportunity to slip away. Anyway, what can I do for you, Mr. Wise?”
The silence that followed Astra’s arrival was almost deafening. Even Zhu Yuan recognized their latest guest. “Wise… how do you have Astra Yao’s number?”
“Oh, we’re great friends!” Astra chirped, skipping over to the Random Play manager, throwing a far too friendly arm around his shoulders for Zhu Yuan’s tastes, and teasingly bumping his hip with hers. “I’d do anything for such a wonderful person!”
Wise cringed as Zhu Yuan almost seemed to wither under Astra’s aura. “Great friends… is it?”
There was a momentary flash of realization in Astra’s face, and she swiftly pivoted, both metaphorically and literally, stepping away from Wise while she took front and center of the assembled menagerie.
“So, Mr. Wise only gave me a brief summary of the events that led us here, so I’d appreciate if everyone could fill in the details.” Astra pointed in Nicole’s direction, correctly surmising she’d be the most forthcoming, and said, “Let’s start with you, Miss Number Four!”
Astra turned her head in Wise’s direction and subtly winked. Wise had brought her fully up to speed through an earlier call; she was giving him the opportunity to slip away with Zhu Yuan to give her the comfort the officer needed at that moment.
Wise had almost forgotten that despite all of Zhu Yuan’s strength and confidence, one area where she had disastrously little self-worth was interpersonal relations. Hell, he abruptly remembered how the officer had felt nigh defeated by the sight of Wise and Qingyi holding hands as he had escorted the android back to NEPS Headquarters.
He quietly guided Zhu Yuan into the back room, and explained his entire association with Astra Yao, which was in reality not that much.
“I had thought it was curious that she was working with Eous during the Ridu’s Got Boo tournament. But I guess I was so distracted by the boondoggle internally that I never stopped to think she was also connected with you…”
“It’s honestly nothing serious, Zhu,” he said reassuringly, dropping an affectionate peck on her forehead. “Astra’s just a lot sometimes. She doesn’t have nearly as many friends as you might think, and as a result she can… come on very strong.”
“So I see,” Zhu Yuan replied. “You’d think I’d be more confident in myself at this point.”
“You’re who you are, and that what’s I like about you.”
She pushed him away gently, and said, “Alright, Mr. Smooth Talker. Let’s get back to the party before someone starts wondering about us.”
The two returned just as Astra had finished “getting up to speed,” the famous singer nodding along with each tale of the welcome and unwelcome attention. “Yes, what we have here is trying to manage sudden celebrity, and I can empathize with all of you. Even when you think you’re ready for the scrutiny, it can surprise you.”
She then smiled, and said, “However, as unbelievable as it may sound, Miss Belle did have the right idea. The easiest, and best, way to get out of the public eye is for an even bigger spectacle to take the public’s attention.”
The younger manager smiled, at least until Astra gently chided her, “However, where she failed was not securing the consent of everyone involved, and using very private materials as bait. She is very lucky to have such understanding and amiable friends, because I have seen those sorts of antics go very wrong, and it could have ended very badly.”
Belle dropped her head in defeat, “Alright, I get it. I messed up.”
“So, is it safe to assume that you have an idea how how best to proceed, Miss Yao?” Lycaon asked, speaking up for the first time.
“I do!” Astra chirped. “See, I am getting ready to begin a promotional run for my upcoming album, and I think I know an excellent way to do that and dominate the media headlines to the point where the public is going to forget about anyone here who wants to disappear into obscurity again.”
“Go on…” Yanagi said, probably more eager than anyone here for that result.
“However, my plan is going to be a little… risque, and it would be helpful to have some volunteers, preferably anyone who would like to stay in the public eye.”
Wise could almost see the dennies appear in Nicole’s eyes. Her hand shot straight up almost instantly with the idea of how collaborating with Astra Yao would help the Cunning Hares’ profile. “Right here! You’ve got your girl!”
Rina nodded, “I think I would like to volunteer as well. I think it might be fun cutting a little loose once again.”
“Not even going to wait until you hear my idea?” Astra asked playfully. “What if I were to say it involves a rooftop hot tub?”
At that point, Ceasar’s eyebrows perked up. “Ah, heck! Then count me in!”
Lucy’s eyes bulged, and she snarled, “Are you serious? You are the Overlord of the Outer Ring! Not… not some model!”
Burnice chirped, “Can I come along too? I’ll bring the nitro fuel!”
“Of course!” Astra replied, equaling the bartender’s enthusiasm.
“You are both insane!” Lucy protested with a stomp of her foot.
Ceasar seemed to consider this. “You’re right, Lucy. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Thank you,” Lucy replied smugly.
“Of course you’re coming along too! There’s this cute swimwear set I saw in the Lumina Mall that will look awesome on you!”
“WHAT?”
Astra got that devilish gleam in her eye that Wise had already learned meant some shenanigans were about to happen. “Now, Miss King, surely you understand Lucy’s delicate situation. Do you have any idea how much it would scandalize the Montefio family for Lucy to show up in such a scandalous promotion piece? Goodness, she might not ever be invited back to the family home if she did such a thing!”
Lucy’s eyes again bulged, before narrowing thoughtfully, “Oh? Hmm… well… I suppose that is something I’d be willing to suffer for the good of all involved… purely for the sake of everyone else, of course.”
“Of course,” Astra agreed.
Miyabi stepped forward, "May I join in? It seems like this could be fun."
"Absolutely!" Astra beamed. "Why, you might be one person that could rival my publicity profile! We'd command the entire news cycle for a week!"
Yanagi opened her mouth to suggest to her Chief to reconsider the idea, but having just seen how Lucy had been almost masterfully manipulated into joining in, decided the better part of valor was to keep her mouth shut.
Before Astra could manage to get any more recruits, the door to Random Play shook with a heavy knock, Evelyn stomping in the instant that Belle allowed her entry.
“Miss Astra, it’s already 10pm, and you have a rehearsal at 5am tomorrow morning. It’s time to come home.”
Astra grinned like the Cheshire Cat of old, as she lunged forward, and grabbed Evelyn’s wrists. “Change of plans, Eve; we’ve got a photo shoot tomorrow morning, and you’re gonna help!”
Evelyn hated everything about that sentence.
Astra Yao had been right.
Forget New Eridu Style; every single newspaper, magazine, and entertainment show pounced on her promotional piece for her upcoming album, “Sunny Days,” which was no doubt helped by the photo shoot taken from the top of Random Play, where Astra had somehow managed to get an outdoor pool assembled, and her cadre of volunteers, all clad in some very skimpy bikinis, to frolic playfully for the cameras.
Or more accurately, one camera, held and operated by Wise. A role that did not go unnoticed by a certain someone, especially once Astra dropped by Random Play with a small sampling of the articles that had emerged from the event.
Zhu Yuan resisted the urge to retreat from the singer, though she couldn’t hold the snark back as Astra showed off one particular shot that looked like the camera might as well have been nestled in Astra’s cleavage and pointing straight down through the singer’s white bikini top.
“I see someone was thorough,” the officer commented darkly.
“Wise is honestly one of the most professional photographers I’ve ever worked with,” Astra said beamingly. “You would never think he didn’t do this sort of thing for a living.”
Zhu Yuan found her attention snagged by another image, of a rather bemused Evelyn in an orange and cream floral print bikini, staring down and looking like she was stepping on the photographer.
“Oh yes. Very professional.”
Astra then grabbed Zhu Yuan’s hands, and said regretfully, “It’s such a shame you didn’t want to join us. You would have been stunning.”
The officer blushed, and found herself stammering, “Oh… well… I… I just want to get back to my job. I’ve had enough celebrity for one lifetime.”
“I understand. The public life isn’t for everyone, and I suppose it wouldn’t be particularly becoming for such images to exist of New Eridu’s future PubSec Commander.”
Zhu Yuan was starting to see how people could become enchanted with Astra Yao. “Oh, well… I don’t try to look that far in the future.”
“Well, when you do, call me. I think you’d be amazed how far my endorsement can go!” Astra then acknowledged Eve’s glare and tapping foot, “Alas, I suppose my job never ends. I must be off! Thank you again for being so helpful and accommodating, Wise. We could have never pulled it off without you!”
She then kissed Wise swiftly on the cheek, skipping off with Eve falling in close behind as they left Random Play.
Wise chuckled, and sighed softly, before he felt the temperature drop several degrees, turning fearfully towards a scowling Zhu Yuan.
“Great friends, is it?” She asked darkly.
“Great friends,” Wise repeated.
“Great friends.”
Something told Wise that there was no right answer to this, and sighed again, this time in defeat.
“Yes, Zhu,” he said in resignation. "Just... good friends."
“Uh huh.”