Girl Talk – II

Outside the changing room in a random women's clothing store. Asako leaned against a support pillar, waiting with her arms crossed. Off to the side, Alpha sat on a lounge chair, while Beta stood next to her, reading something on her phone.

At that time, Rin ran out from the changing room and spun around, twirling her dress. She came to a stop in front of Asako and said, "How do I look?"

Asako blinked, caught off-guard at being suddenly addressed. She would have thought that Rin would have asked the other two first. "Uh... You look cute?"

Rin had changed into a black dress with a bright yellow sunflower on its front and some frilly yellow sleeves.

If Asako was being honest, the dress seemed a bit silly. But somehow, it worked on Rin.

Rin's eyes lit up and she said, "Really?"

Asako nodded. "Really."

Rin smiled and she turned towards Alpha and Beta. "What do you two think?"

Alpha smiled back and said, "You look as cute as ever, Rin!"

Beta nodded. "Indeed. Those clothes are quite suited to emphasize your bright and cheery personality."

"Great! Then it's Nee-chan's turn to dress up!"

Alpha froze. "H-Huh?"

Before she could react, Rin ran up and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the changing room. "Come on, Nee-chan! It'll be fun!"

Alpha's crimson eyes widened. "M-Me?! B-But... W-Wait. I don't know what to wear-"

"It's fine! I found lots of outfits that you'll look super cute in!"

"R-Rin!"

The door to the changing room opened and then slammed shut, leaving just Asako and Beta outside.

Asako sighed and then glanced at Beta. "Are you sure this is a good idea? We're drawing a lot of attention... What if people find out?"

Although it wasn't likely that anyone would match up Hana and Alfi to Rin and Alpha on a normal basis, the fact that they were all traveling together in a group... and that they were all objectively beautiful young women meant that they were getting heightened scrutiny. Which in turn meant a higher chance of them being found out.

Beta tucked her phone away and said, "It is fine." She glanced towards the changing room and said, "Rin is still a child, and as such deserves to enjoy life as much as she can before the burdens of adulthood fall upon her shoulders. Also, it is nice seeing Eldest Sister able to finally relax and act so carefree."

"Carefree, huh?" Asako glanced back at the changing room and remembered Alpha's flustered expression. But at the same time, she couldn't help but remember the harsh and cold beauty that she had met initially in that impromptu race.

Asako shifted her gaze back to Beta and said, "I've been meaning to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Just who *are* you guys? Like you said, Alpha's relaxed and carefree now, but the woman I met the first time... And you, too." Asako remembered Beta's cold gaze and resisted the urge to shudder. "...You guys aren't just pretty faces, right?"

Beta was quiet for a bit and then shook her head. "It is nothing that you should concern yourself with. Simply know that if you ever discover the truth, it will mean that this peaceful world will have come to an end."

A casual and matter-of-fact statement. Not a denial, like Asako expected, not an explanation... but also one all the same in how much was left out.

That time, Asako did shudder. "Dammit. Every day I wonder just what sort of shi- Bullcrap I got dragged into with you guys."

Beta shrugged and tucked a strand of her crimson hair behind her ear. "Perhaps you should not have taunted my dear Eldest Sister into an underground race then?"

Asako grunted and said, "I've got a feeling I would have been dragged into a bad situation one way or another anyway. With all the bad karma that bastard of a father I have stockpiled, my life was already on the way to the dumps anyway." She shrugged. "Compared to being exploited, drugged senseless, or dead, this is practically heaven... even if you guys all lack common sense."

Honestly. There was Rin who was all too eager to experience everything and adopted them all as her older sisters, Alpha who was an extreme Daddy's Girl and stupidly cute in an unfair and unnatural way, and then Beta, who was uncompromising and cold when push came to shove... except when it came to Rin or Alpha, who she would accommodate completely.

"Hm?" Beta frowned and said, "Bad karma?"

Of all the things, that's what you latch on to?! Asako bit back the immediate retort that came to mind and instead said, "Yeah. My old man's the bastard that got arrested a few days ago and got put on death row." She paused and said, "Didn't your dad tell you about it?"

Beta's frown deepened and her eyes scanned the air, lost in thought. "That is... Hm. The timing of it... and..." She mumbled to herself a bit and then clicked her tongue. "Tch. Father truly cannot keep it to himself, can he?"

"Pft." Asako smirked at the phrasing and said, "Yeah. Your dad *does* seem like the type. Especially with that damned handsome face of his..."

Seriously though. What was with her and running across handsome bastards who were already taken or out of reach? Did the world like teasing her that much? Unlike her father, she never did anything worth that sort of bad karma... And since he confessed to his crimes and accepted his fate, shouldn't that mean her luck should be on the upturn too?

Beta blinked and then a faint smile crossed her face. "I believe you misunderstood me... but I suppose that is true. Father used to indeed be quite a bit unfaithful... Well, in the opinion of those who fell for him, at least."

"Wait, really?"

Beta nodded. "He is more restrained now... and quite a bit more careful since he is aware of his issues. But let us just say that his younger days were... interesting."

Asako remembered how that guy casually saved her life more than a few times, his usually confident demeanor that was broken up by random awkwardness, and then the fact that he was rich enough to pioneer an entire industry. After that, she nodded. "I'll bet it was."

And it also made her wonder just what kind of superwoman managed to snag a guy like that to the extent that he emphasized over and over in the interview that he was married...

A soft chime echoed. A notification from Beta's phone. "Ah." She took it out and said, "Pardon me."

Asako glanced over and said, "Is it from your dad?"

Beta swiped on the screen and shook her head. "No. Just an email from a business associate regarding my personal project."

Asako raised an eyebrow. "You've got time to run personal projects? Weren't you so busy that you were chucking all of your work my way to get some rest and relaxation?"

"That was indeed the case before. However." Beta smiled and said, "My dear father has finally decided to become a responsible adult and handle the company's business affairs personally instead of handing them off to his competent daughter."

"...You sound pretty pissed off about that."

"Hm? Oh. My apologies." Beta shook her head and said, "I did not intend to come off that way. Though..." She frowned and said, "It *is* a bit stressful. I do not mind... In fact, I am happy to help. But I do worry a bit. Father is the sort to try and clean a room by bleaching it with high grade energy attacks..." She paused and said, "...Perhaps I should not have let him take the reins back so soon. There were quite a few problems that I had yet to resolve..."

"...Should I help out? I mean, I *do* have a business degree..."

"It... should be fine." Beta muttered. "Father knows better now. At least, he should. And since you signed a contract to be an idol, it would be troublesome to have you in a management position as well, so it will not do." She sighed and said, "If only Mistress Yue were here. Then I could be completely assured." She paused. "...But then again, that would mean that my youngest sister is here as well."

Asako had been nodding along, but at that last part she froze. "Wait." She pushed herself off the support pillar and lowered her arms. "You have another sister? A younger sister too?"

Beta nodded. "I do. She is a bit... well, extreme. Though I hope that when she arrives with Mistress Yue in this peaceful land, she will lose her tendency of solving problems with her fists."

'Mistress' Yue. A younger sister who solves problems with her fists. Beta's proclamation that John was the sort of person to essentially nuke whatever problems came his way...

Asako frowned and said, "I'm... getting the feeling that your family is a lot more dangerous than mine ever was..."

Her father might have been an utter bastard who murdered enough people to stain the streets of Tokyo red and committed countless vile deeds, but even then he had never gone beyond Japan.

As Asako continued to hang around John and the others though, she was starting to get the sense that those guys were people that had a reach further than his father could ever have hoped to obtain...

Beta chuckled and said, "I suppose that is true. But better to have such people on your side than against you, is it not?"

"...I guess so?"

"In any case," Beta said. "Have you loosened up?"

"Loosened up?" Asako blinked. "What are you- Oh." She shook her head and said, "I was wondering why you were being so chatty. So you were just trying to make me feel better, huh?"

Beta nodded. "Of course. Rapport is essential among long-term co-workers as well as cordiality. And..." She flushed, scratching her nose. "I... may have given quite the harsh first impression."

Asako remembered that first meeting as well and rubbed the back of her neck with her left hand. "Well... Can't say that I didn't play a part in that mess. But no hard feelings, right?" She lowered her left hand and then held out her right to Beta.

Beta stared at it and then smiled, grabbing Asako's hand. "I would be happy to bury the hatchet, Miss Asako."

Asako grinned and said, "Now that sounds like a fun time. Let me know if you want to go wild on some thugs, alright? I'm up for whenever."

"...I believe there is another misunderstanding... But that does indeed sound fairly entertaining. I will let you know if such a situation arises. Now..." Beta ended the handshake and said, "I am still adapting to this country's culture, so I would like to ask you something."

"Go for it."

Beta frowned and glanced past Asako. "Is it common for store clerks to stare? I noticed that they did so from when we walked in and believed it was simple courtesy, but those gazes are a bit too probing for my liking."

Asako narrowed her eyes and then turned to look.

A pair of older women, probably in their mid-thirties, were staring at them, whispering. But the moment they met Asako's gaze, they flinched and looked away.

Asako snorted and turned back around. "Don't mind them. Just some meddlesome old hags who don't have anything better to do with their lives."

Like that old lady next door at her previous apartment. Stupid hag, always bothering Asako about getting a boyfriend as if she wasn't trying...

"Ah." Beta nodded. "So it was as I expected. In that case-"

At that time, the changing room door opened again. But unlike before, the person exiting took tentative steps.

Alpha walked out, her face flushed. A pure white dress with red ribbon highlights and snowy slippers had replaced her panda sweatshirt, making her look like a princess from a fairytale- No, like Snow White.

Fiddling with the ribbon over her chest, Alpha turned to Beta. When she did, her flush turned into a deep red blush and she muttered, "D-Do I look okay, Betty?"

Beta froze.

Asako, who had glanced over, froze as well.

Alpha lowered her gaze. "I-I knew it. So something like this doesn't-"

Beta crossed the distance in a flash, pulling Alpha into a hug.

"B-B-Betty?!"

"...Cute. Super cute. The cutest among the cute."

"W-Wait a minute! Your nose! Betty!"

Rin walked out from the changing room and laughed. "See? Nee-chan is definitely way cuter than me!"

Beta stepped back and wiped her nose, making it seem like nothing had happened at all.

Alpha gave her a skeptical look and carefully said, "You... Are you really fine, Betty?"

"Absolutely. And magnificent job, Rin." Beta looked to the younger girl and gave a thumbs up. "Please. Continue."

"C-Continue?!" Alpha's eyes widened and she took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest. She glanced between Rin and Beta like a frightened rabbit before shifting her gaze to Asako, pleading for help.

The out of character act finally broke Asako from her trance. She shook her head, clearing it, and then said, "I think we should stop."

"Hm?" Beta glanced at Asako and said, "Stop? Why?"

"Yeah!" Rin nodded. "We're just getting to the fun part!"

Asako turned around to check on the clerks. And, as expected, they were hit hard by Alpha's gap moe, one on her knees clutching her chest and the other already collapsed on the floor.

Beta blinked. "...As expected. Eldest Sister is too cute today as well."