千客万来の夜
One Night with a Flood of Visitors


---: And the next big headline is "Of all things, a blade! From a certain famous private school, U.S.-san commits violence in the middle of the night!" How about that?

Kei: ............

---: Ooi, Kei, you alive?

Kei: ......Sakuya-san?

Sakuya: That's right. I got a great picture, thanks to you.

In her hands she wags her favorite camera, with a big lens attached.
So that's it. That last bright flash was a camera strobe, then?
With so many awful things happening one after another, I'd completely forgotten that she was staying in this hotel.

Sakuya: So what's this big fuss of yours about?

Kei: The thing is, Sakuya-san, Uzuki-san was saying she'd kill Yumei-san---

Sakuya: Ahn? Yumei, you say?

Kei: Ah, Yumei-san is this - er, she's not human, but she's not a bad person!

Sakuya: ............

Sakuya-san, with a thoughtful face, begins to observe Yumei-san, intently.
Uuu, I guess suddenly saying "she's not human" could cause a problem, and when the observed is already halfway transparent, it could cause confusion...

Sakuya: ............

Kei: ............

Sakuya: ......Well, that's fine I guess.

Wah, I don't really understand, but what can you expect?

Sakuya: So then, Uzuki.

Uzuki: What is it?

Sakuya: There you are again, swinging that shiny thing around. It's amazing you never get caught.

Uzuki: I have my registration card, if you must know.

Sakuya: That's fine for carrying while walking around, but swinging it around while drawn?

Sakuya: After all, here we have a picture at the definitive moment of attempted murder.

Uzuki: You're saying you'll publish the picture?

Sakuya: Well then, what should I do, huh?

Uzuki: It's blackmail, then? Not that I really mind.

Sakuya: Heh---?

Uzuki: It would be one thing if it were a carving knife or everyday item, but this is an antique sword. A normal person would likely assume it to be a play rehearsal or the like.

Uzuki-san, having model-like features, would be like a partially clothed actress, and if Yumei-san was visible, you would see the scenery behind her......
Fiction, no matter how you look at it. Loaded with digital effects.

Uzuki: Even supposing it became a problem, my age requires censoring my name and face.

Sakuya: You're saying you don't care? Even if you don't consider the recent pressure to quash that standard, images and articles spread far and wide, you know.

Uzuki: This is increasingly taking on the flavor of blackmail, then. Are you thinking you can corner me by publicizing digital information under a pseudonym?

Sakuya: Damn...

Uzuki: Of course, whatever the circumstance, I think you could expect to invite countermeasures, taking Wakasugi into account.

Sakuya: Kaaa! That's why I hate dogs that swing their influential tail all over the place!

Uzuki: The "dog" in this happenstance is you, is it not? Is it amusing to ridicule yourself?

Sakuya: Hah! I won't have you forget. Thanks to a certain group of people, I'm an authentic "lone wolf," thank you very much.

They really don't get along......
I let out a stealthy sigh, and avert my vision from the quarreling couple.
Anyway, by "lone wolf," is she referring to her independent reportage writer status, or what?
Sakuya-san's "independent" meaning self-employed, with her pictures actually selling better... was her career spoiled in the past, somehow?
Come to think of it, could "Wakasugi" be the same Wakasugi Bank, Wakasugi Enterprises, or Wakasugi Pharmaceuticals that you see in textbooks in the post-war disenfranchisement? (TN: At the end of the Bakumatsu, or the revolutionary war at the end of the Tokugawa regime, the "daimyou" of noble families were stripped of political power, later becoming industrial monopolies such as Yamaha, or other recognizable names. I doubt there's a Wakasugi in real life, but in this story, it would be a very powerful family.)
............
Having stood against Uzuki-san, am I going to be societally erased and designated an oni or something?
As I raise my face to a chilled metallic sound, I see Uzuki-san sheathing the katana in her scabbard.

Kei: Uzuki-san......

When our eyes meet, she smiles self-derisively and walks to the door.

Uzuki: I merely gave those two my aid. They were beset upon by something troublesome. I suppose whatever happens afterwards doesn't matter.

Kei: Eh...... then, Yumei-san......

Uzuki: Do what you will.

She stops her feet a step before hitting Sakuya-san, camped out at the door.

Uzuki: Even if I had intended to kill her, I doubt she would watch quietly.

Sakuya: Right, right, the exit's this way.

After Sakuya-san opens the path, Uzuki-san gives her a single sideways glance before leaving the room.

追いかける 追いかけない
Chase after her Don't chase after her