Shione Higurashi
Tactician| Higurashi Family Residence
After yet another successful operation by the lover's club, Shione returns back home with a huge grin on her face. Though she heard reports of some unsightly things happening on the background, it didn't get in the way of the success of their mission which was the most important thing for the One Eyed Cupid.
So what if there were two members that had a certain disagreement? They're already grown up young adults and should be able to sort things out themselves specially now that she found out that Haruhi was planning to hold some sort of training camp specially for the new recruits.
As Shione arrives home, several maids, all dressed in a distinct, recognizable uniform come to greet her by the front door. They bow respectfully and recite a single line that they've all come to perfect due to their years of service.
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"Welcome home, Shione-sama!"
In response, Shione smiles and gives them a casual dismissive wave. All of them part to make way for her only to reveal another maid that radiated a different aura than the previous maids. [spoili]
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"Yes, Welcome Home, Lady Shione. Master Shiro is expecting you at his study." The maid in question said in a serious monotone voice as she seemed to glare at Shione disapprovingly.
"Griselda-san? You're here as well? That would mean Toshiro and Shiori are here as well, eh?" Shione asked inquisitively.
"That is incorrect, Lady Shione, Master Toshiro, and Lady Shiori are still in Kawakami City as scheduled. There are no plans for their return in the foreseeable future until the annual family reunion. Alfred-sama is currently posted there as my substitute." Griselda replied matter-of-factly.
"I see. I've already had dinner before coming back here so I guess I should go see him now."
"Very well, I shall accompany you based on Master Shiro's orders."
The pair make their way through a set of winding staircases and corridors before reaching the Head Higurashi's personal quarters. Upon entering the room, one would be able to notice right away the numerous bookshelves lining the walls of the room filled with an assortment of books on various topics. A large mahogany desk was placed at the center of the room decorated by intricate carvings of cicadas all over the piece.
"So you're home, Shione."
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The man in question, a black haired guy in his mid 20s was standing behind the the desk with his back turned away from the two girls.
"Yeah, I'm more surprised that you're back, Nii-san. So why'd you call me up to your study, and with Griselda-san no less?" Shione asked anxiously.
In response, Shiro replied in a calm yet stern voice.
"You should know very well that my information network is a lot better than anything you could set up. I am already aware of this training camp that Nakamura-san has planned. I am also quite aware of the "preparations" you had set up earlier for your little club operation. While I may have given you free rein on what you wish to do for that Lover's Club of yours, may I remind you that you are using the name and the resources of the company in your dealings."
"I am well aware of that, Nii-san. And so far, I have done nothing to undermine the company's reputation and the family name." Shione retorted.
"Indeed. But you formed that club with Haruhi Nakamura in order to accomplish two distinct objectives, right?"
Way to hit the nail on the head... Unknown to the other members of the club, Shione had an ulterior motive in forming the Lover's Club with Haruhi. The first and seemingly more important motive was to find a way to get rid of her "curse". After doing an extensive amount of research regarding her "curse" she had come up of a theory about a way of breaking the curse which involved finding a "partner" that could endure a month of the curse's side effects. Thus, finding a boyfriend became her second objective.
"I..." Shione knew her older brother well enough that lying to him wasn't an option. Being a businessman, he had trained himself to instantly determine when a person was lying so there was nothing she could say that wouldn't be an outright lie.
"You've had little to no progress after spending all those resources, by the looks of it. The last time you were in a relationship was well over a year ago. That is why I am giving you a deadline... If you are unable to find a potential boyfriend among all the guys who'll be attending Nakamura-san's training camp, then I will ask you to forfeit your membership in the club." the black haired patriarch of the Higurashi family declared.
"I... I understand, Shiro-nii-san." Shione was well aware of the sacrifices her brother made just to bring back their family's affluent status. In this household, Shiro's word was law and if he ever decided that the club was a bad influence not only for her but for the entire family altogether, then there was little she could do to go against his wishes of staying in the Lover's club.
"Good. And don't even think about telling me a random name and a made-up story. I've already asked Griselda-san to monitor your progress directly and report any developments that occur to me. So I would know if you're lying about finding a potential boyfriend or not. That's all I have to say to you right now, Shione. You may start packing your things for the trip. Both of you are dismissed."
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..
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After making sure that both Griselda and Shione had left, Shiro sighed vehemently before taking a puff at the medicinal cigarette he was smoking. As much as it pained him to deliver such a harsh judgment on Shione, he was the man of the house now.
"All I want is to rid you of that curse Shione... The more you stay in that club, the more you're just going to get hurt. Doesn't it break your heart helping others find love when you, yourself, is denied such happiness by your own version of the family curse?"
Shione was in a daze for much of the trip to Haruhi's villa. Shiro's ultimatum was still fresh on her mind and it was the only thing she could think about. The enthusiastic chattering of her fellow club members and the others who tagged along on the trip were drowned out by her lamentations on what she had to do. The silver-haired girl desperately wanted stay in the club but at the same time, she had expected to meet "the one" outside the members of the club. No matter how much she thought about it, she could only view the guys in the Lover's club as either friends or acquaintances. In fact, she was even less confident that someone here would find her attractive.
There was one other thing that she feared. In this situation, she had no other choice but to consult with Haruhi. However, what would be the president's reaction when she finds out her real motive for making the club with her? Throughout all these years, she had made it clear that her intentions were pure for making the club... that all she wanted to do was play cupid for people who desperately sought love because she knows what it's like firsthand how difficult finding love is. If she finds out about her ulterior motive now, would nothing change? Would she still accept her as her friend? Or would it make Shiro's ultimatum moot because Haruhi would kick her out of the club right then and there? The more she thought about it, the more her paranoia grew. It seems like with every passing second, she gets more and more stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The one-eyed tactician didn't even realize that they have reached their destination until the bus driver himself informed her directly. She was the only one left in the bus when she came to but she could feel the piercing eyes of Griselda fixated on her from a hidden vantage point nearby. She quickly retrieved her luggage from the bus' luggage compartment and hurriedly tried to catch up to the group.
Having already visited Haruhi's villa several times in the past, it didn't take long for her to find the group though at this point, it seemed like everyone was off doing their own thing. That may just work out for her. With everyone distracted and having fun, she'd be able to talk privately with Haruhi without drawing much attention to herself... Or not.
Before she could manage to get any closer to Haruhi, she spotted several people congregating around Haruhi including Miyuki, Sebastian, Ryu, and Alexander. It would be too awkward to grab Haruhi while she's surrounded with all those people so she decided to postpone her confession for now.
As she's walking by the beach, he spots an injured Akemi being surrounded now by Ryu and Miyuki. It seems that he became the unfortunate victim of a poorly aimed toss of a volleyball by the androphobic events planner who was attempting to hit Ryu. Shione vaguely remembers what happened at that park the other day so she expected Miyuki's androphobia to kick in but she never imagined that it'd get this violent. Sighing, Shione was about to approach the three but a hand tugged her arm from behind.Turnign around, she came face to face with Griselda, still dressed in her signature maid uniform.
"If you're going to help the fallen male, I would suggest bringing this with you." She says in a tone as cold as the ice bag she hands her.
"Gee thanks. I suppose you already took the liberty of infiltrating the house to get this, right?" Shione replies nonchalantly.
"That is correct, Lady Shione. And in case you are wondering, I am still successful in ensuring that my presence remains undetected, even now. The only people who have been successful in getting past my "Presence Concealment" is Lady Shione and Master Shiro. I've taken the liberty of putting your luggage in your room as well."
"I get it. I get it. Just get out of here before anyone else notices you."
It didn't really come as a surprise for Shione if nobody here was capable of noticing Griselda's presence. Before becoming part of the Higurashi Combat Maid Squadron, Griselda used to be an assassin for the highest bidder. She crossed paths with the Higurashi family after a failed assassination attempt on Shiro. Instead of handing her over to the authorities or killing her himself, Shiro offered her a job indefinitely as part of his elite servant corps. She has served the family faithfully ever since.
With ice bag in hand, Shione made her way to the three and knelt beside Akemi to examine him.
"Good news is, it seems you don't have a broken nose. Just take it easy for a while and rest. I'll move you to a shaded area first before anything else."
In a move that neither Miyuki nor Ryunosuke would expect, Shione scoops up Akemi and gives him a "princess carry" as she brings him to a shaded area where a parasol and a few beach chairs were set up. Gingerly placing Akemi on the chair on an upright sitting position, she fishes a handkerchief from her packet and wraps it around the icebag before giving it to Akemi.
"I'd refrain from lying down if I were you as this reduces the blood pressure in the blood vessels of your nose and will discourage further bleeding. Lean forward and breathe through your mouth – this will drain blood down your nose instead of down the back of your throat. Also place this ice pack on the bridge of your nose. Rest for about 15 minutes and you should be fine." Shione ordered Akemi in a strict, no-nonsense voice.
"I'll be coming back to check on you after 15 minutes. Until then stay here as instructed." She ordered before stomping off to get changed. She had gotten self conscious that she still hadn't changed into her swimsuit while the others were already wearing theirs.
After about 15 minutes, Shione returns where she last left Akemi wearing nothing more than the swimsuit she changed into. [spoili]
[/spoili]For many of the club members, it would also be the first time that they would see their Tactician without her signature eyepatch revealing not a hollow eye socket but instead a normal-looking, albeit different colored left eye.
"So, feeling any better yet, Watanabe-kun?"
