Hub World, Earth, Japan, Tokyo.
After Sumire's mood soured when she received the text from Marie Rose, Helena Douglas' maid, everyone's mood to explore the plot of land diminished severely. So, they decided to talk about it later. Though, it was clear that neither Tatsuo nor Mai had any complaints about the chosen land.
After making the decision to leave, the three climbed back into the 745 and made their way back to the apartment. Upon arrival, Sumire called everyone into the living room. And when Kasumi, Tio, and Ayane saw the looks on Tatsuo's, Sumire's, and Mai's faces, they all put on solemn expressions of their own.
"Sumire-Sama, is something wrong?' Kasumi asked softly.
"I just received news that Victor Donavan is up to something again." Sumire said solemnly. "And it involves Tatsu-Chan's first public performance."
Immediately upon hearing the name, Victor Donavan, Tatsuo's anger flared, his [Energy] swirling around him wildly. Mai's and Kasumi's expressions turned dark, as well. Which was no surprise, as Sumire had rescued both of them from DOATEC's clutches, as well. Tio was also angered. Though, it had much less to do with Donavan, and more to do with the fact that Tatsuo's performance might be interrupted.
As for Ayane, she was the calmest one in the room. Although she knew that her deceased father, Raidou had teamed up with DOATEC, specifically Victor Donavan, when he betrayed the Megen Tenshin Village, since Raidou was already dead, she was able to remain calm.
"I know this stuff about Victor Donavan is important, but what performance are you talking about?" Ayane asked curiously.
That question calmed Kasumi by quite a bit, causing her to turn her head in Sumire's direction for the answer. However, it was not Sumire who answered. Instead, it was Mai, who got excited at the fact that Tatsuo would be able to make a mark on the entire world.
"Oh yeah!" Mai shouted energetically. "That's right! Tatsu-Kun will be performing at Santory Hall on Friday night as Piano accompaniment for a new violinist in the company."
Mai's expression then darkened as she continued.
"But why does it have to be another woman?" Mai asked while pulling at her hair as she lowered her head in grief. "Because of this, he'll be spending most of his Spring Break at the company. And now, I won't be able to spend a lovey-dovey, sexy-time Spring Break with my Tatsu-Kun!"
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, that wasn't going to happen, anyway." Sumire said, casually dismissing Mai's concerns. "Tatsu-Chan needed to train to get used to his new transformation. So, there wouldn't have been any time for that. Not that Tatsu-Chan would have given you that much of his time, anyway."
Hearing that, Mai looked heartbroken. Then, she desperately turned to look at Tatsuo, her gaze practically begging him to tell her that was not true.
"Yeah, I need to get my power under control in that state." Tatsuo affirmed, not even looking at Mai as he did so. "Having power that I can't control perfectly isn't the kind of power I need."
*Thud!*
Hearing Tatsuo confirm Sumire's statement, Mai slid off the couch she was sitting on and dropped onto her hands and knees, lamenting the unfairness of life. Meanwhile, the other five people in the room simply ignored her, as they were used to her overly dramatic antics.
"Anyway, I've got missions for you three, Mai-Chan, Kasumi-Chan, and Ayane-Chan." Sumire said, her tone and expression still as solemn as before. "I need you three to watch out for any movement from DOATEC. According to the message I received, they're using those clones of Kasumi-Chan. A man they refer to as Rig, who is actually Donavan's son will be commanding them. They're goals are to reclaim Tatsuo-Chan and to make a mess at the concert on Friday night."
Immediately, an almost feral grin spread across Tatsuo's face.
"What about our trip to the village tomorrow?" Ayane asked calmly.
"Oh, I forgot about that." Sumire replied, a slightly embarrassed smile appearing on her face as she knocked the side of her head with the knuckles of her left hand. "Right. You'll join Mai-Chan and Kasumi-Chan after we get back. So, since today is Sunday, you can get started on Tuesday."
"Understood." Ayane replied with a nod.
"Kasumi-Chan and I will get started immediately." Mai said as she stood up, her forlorn expression gone completely, replaced by a serious one.
"Yes." Kasumi added. "I'll get ready to go right now."
With that, Mai and Kasumi left the living room to prepare for their mission, leaving only Tatsuo, Sumire, Tio, and Ayane behind in the living room.
"For the sakes of all the people at the concert, I really hope Mai-Nee and Kasumi-Oneesan find them first." Tatsuo said, his feral smile spreading ear to ear. "Because if they actually do get a chance to ruin my concert with Miyazono-San, a lot of people are gonna end up traumatized.'
'*sigh* If the integration between Tatsu-Chan's human and dragon sides don't merge completely, no matter how well he can control himself; his bestial nature will guide his actions from time to time.' Sumire thought to herself while looking at the smile on Tatsuo's face. 'I'm just glad his first father was a human that managed to elevate himself as high as he did. Otherwise, I'd have to worry about the nature of another race affecting him, too. The greed, love for gold, and lust are already going to be an ordeal on their own. Other traits would just be a real headache.'
"What would you like me to do, Sumire-Sama?" Tio asked, hoping to receive a task that could help.
"Just keep acting as Tatsu-Chan's manager this week.' Sumire replied. "If Mai and I don't show up at the company, it won't seem so strange. But if Tatsu-Chan shows up without you, people will wonder where you are."
"Understood." Tio replied with a slight bow. "I will follow Tatsuo-Sama wherever he may go while everyone works. And although he may not need my protection, nothing will happen to him while I still draw breath."
Sumire smiled at Tio's dedication to Tatsuo while Ayane scoffed. Unsurprisingly, she and Tatsuo were thinking almost the exact same thing in response to Tio's declaration.
'Something tells me that he/I needs/need to be more wary of you than a sneak attack from either Rig or the clones.'
Feeling that Tatsuo was thinking something rude about her, Tio stiffened immediately. Then, she began to shiver as her face reddened, and her breathing became labored.
"*Sigh*" Tatsuo and Ayane could not help sighing in unison when they saw Tio's current state. Then, they exchanged glances and shook their heads simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Sumire could not help but smile at her two children, one by blood and one adopted, because of how well they seemed to be getting along.
"Anyway, I'm gonna go back to training." Ayane said, standing up from the couch. "Tatsuo, come spar with me."
"Maybe in a little while." Tatsuo replied as he also stood up from the couch. "I'm gonna call Yakumo and tell her about the concert. She'll probably wanna come. Chiho, too."
"Oh, let me know how many people you want to invite." Sumire said happily, her usual bubbly demeanor returning. "I'll make sure to set aside some VIP tickets for you. Just make sure they know that they have to wear formal wear to get in."
"Got it." Tatsuo replied with a nod as he turned towards the hallway. "Then, I guess that means Maou-San is out. That guy is way too broke to pay for a suit for something like this. And even if he wanted to, Ashiya-San would nag him about it for hours if he even suggested it.'
"Is that Maou guy's girlfriend really that controlling?" Ayane asked as she followed Tatsuo out of the living room.
"Ashiya-San isn't his girlfriend." Tatsuo replied with a chuckle. "Ashiya-San is a guy. And he's Maou-San's roommate. But he acts more like a house husband than a roommate."
"So, they're those kinds of men, huh?" Ayane replied with a smirk. "Not that there's anything wrong with that."
"Hahahahaha!" Tatsuo could not help laughing aloud when Ayane insinuated that Sadao and Ashiya were gay. "No, but I can see why you'd think that. Actually, Maou-San is a Demon King from another world and Ashiya is one of his generals. So, he acts as a servant and advisor."
"Oh, I guess that kinda makes sense…" Ayane replied, her voice fading as she got further away from the living room.
"Hmm… Should I offer Maou-Chan a job?" Sumire asked herself. "He is Tatsu-Chan's friend, after all. But he works with that Chiho-Chan that comes over when it's time for exams. I'm pretty sure she would be sad if that boy stopped working at MgRonald's."
Meanwhile, Tio continued to shiver and breath heavily while staring in the direction where Tatsuo left as she enjoyed the feeling of being ignored.
Not long later, Tatsuo reached his bedroom. When he did, the first thing he did was take off his suit and hop in the shower. Then, after a refreshing shower, he put on a tight, black short-sleeved shirt and a pair of loose white pants before grabbing his smartphone and a stand and sitting on his piano bench.
"Alright, let's call Yakumo-Chan." Tatsuo said as he set up the smartphone stand on top of the piano.
Tatsuo then scrolled through his list of contacts to Yakumo's entry and started a video call. And while he was waiting for the call to connect, he flipped the keylid and began to play.
At the same time, in the Tsukamoto Residence, Yakumo was in the living room, pushing the vacuum cleaner back and forth to clean up a mess that her sister, Tenma, made before she went out to hang out with her friends.
*Ring!* *Ring!*
Though she barely heard the smartphone ringing in her pocket over the vacuum cleaner, the vibrations she could feel let Yakumo know that she had an incoming call. Quickly turning off the vacuum cleaner to answer, thinking that it might be her sister, Yakumo pulled out her smartphone and looked at the screen.
"Tatsuo-Kun?" Yakumo asked rhetorically as a small smile appeared on her face. "And he's making a video call?"
As she asked her second question, Yakumo's eyebrows raised slightly. Then, she quickly turned to look at the mirror hanging in the room to see if she looked alright.
What Yakumo saw in the mirror was herself, wearing a pair of shorts and a white t-shirt with an apron over top. Also, her shoulder length hair was pulled into a short ponytail so that it would not get in the way while she was cleaning.
Quickly, Yakumo reached up to the back of her head and pulled off the scrunchie holding her hair in place. Then, after running her fingers through her hair a couple of times, she looked back at the phone screen. Finally, after a deep breath, she pressed the accept call button.
{BGM: "Fur Elise" – Ludwig van Beethoven}
"Good afternoon, Tatsuo-Kun." Yakumo said in her usual, gentle tone. "How are you today?"
{"I'm good."} Tatsuo replied while the sound of his piano was transmitted through the phone. {"How's your break going so far?"}
"It's fine." Yakumo said. "Because we don't have any homework going into high school, I don't really have much to do."
{"Lucky you."} Tatsuo replied. {"My whole break just got filled with stuff to do today."}
"Oh, what's going on?" Yakumo asked in a curious tone.
{"I have to go to my mom's company every day and practice with this girl who plays the violin."} Tatsuo replied. {"She's got a concert coming up and she needs someone to be her piano accompaniment. And because of the way she plays, I'm pretty much the only pianist in Mom's company that can play with her."}
"That's incredible, Tatsuo-Kun." Yakumo said, a hint of excitement in her tone. "Does that mean you'll be playing at this concert, too?"
{"Yeah."} Tatsuo replied. {"That's actually why I called. If you wanna come see the concert, I can get you some tickets. You can bring your sister and her friends if you want to, too."}
"Really?" Yakumo asked, sounding a bit surprised. "That's very nice of you."
{"The only catch is that you'll have to wear formal clothes if you decide to go."} Tatsuo replied with a nod as he put more feeling into his music. {"Dresses, evening gowns, high heels, and stuff like that. I know Sawachika-Senpai would be fine with that. But I didn't know if you, Tenma-Senpai, Suou-Senpai, and Takano-Senpai had dresses like that."}
"Hmm… That might actually be an issue." Yakumo replied. "Although I have dresses, I don't think I have any that are that formal. But I'll talk to my sister about it when she gets home. We might be able to buy something for the performance. When and where will the performance be held?"
{"Friday night at eight at Santory Hall."} Tatsuo replied. {"And if you need a ride, you don't have to worry about that. I'm sure that Mom could send either Mai-Nee or Tio to pick you up."}
"I'll call Onee-Sama." Yakumo replied. "She's with her friends right now. So, we can all discuss it together. I'll let you know what we decide after I finish talking to them."
{"Alright."} Tatsuo said with a smile. {"I hope you can make it. Oh, and you should just be ready. There might be a fight there. But don't worry, you and the others will be perfectly safe. Neither Mom nor I will let anything happen to any of you."}
Though that last statement worried Yakumo, she decided not to ask. If she needed to know more, Tatsuo would have told her. And since Tatsuo said she would be safe, that was enough for her to feel secure.
"I understand." Yakumo said with a nod. "Well then, I'll call Onee-Sama to let her know about this."
{"Okay, I'll talk to you later."} Tatsuo said with a smile. {"I'm gonna call Chi-Chan next to see if she wants to go, too. Oh, and you should come over one evening so that we can train your psionic abilities some more. They may come in handy if something like what might happen on Friday night ever happens to you."}
{"I'll make sure to come by as often as I can." Yakumo said, an unusual amount of resolve making its way into her reply.
Nodding happily at Yakumo's reply, Tatsuo reached up and ended the video call. Meanwhile, Yakumo continued to stare at the screen of her smartphone for a little while longer. Then, she shook her head and started scrolling through her contacts to find her sister's number.
'I want to be able to stand by Tatsuo-Kun's side.' Yakumo thought to herself as she found Tenma's contact information. 'And to do that, I need to gain control of my powers. Otherwise, I'll be a weakness for him when the people who kidnapped him all those years ago come back.'
After that thought passed, Yakumo called Tenma, who was with Mikoto, Eri, and Akira, and started to tell them about what Tatsuo mentioned about the concert. Naturally, the four older girls were excited to find out that Tatsuo would be performing live. They then decided to go back to the Tsukamoto Residence to pick up Yakumo before heading into Shinjuku to shop for evening dresses, Eri offering to pay if they did not have enough money. Though, the tomboy, Mikoto, was very reluctant to put on that type of clothing.