It was still the same building and the same event hall, but this time there seemed to be more people. Probably every member of the Lucky Mutual Aid Society who could make it had come. They were all members of the same society, and everyone was just as cheerful and friendly as before, chatting in small groups in the bright hall and occasionally bursting into laughter. The whole scene was wonderfully harmonious.
Aside from the number of people, one other thing was different from the last gathering: the variety of snacks laid out on the long table along the side of the hall.
No, at this point, they could hardly be called snacks. It was more like a buffet. The long table, draped in a white tablecloth, was covered with plates of all kinds of food and treats: easy-to-grab items like chicken drumsticks, grilled sausages, and egg tarts. Heat lamps kept everything warm. The desserts were no less impressive. This time, the cupcakes were rich with the aroma of milk, and there were also chocolate truffles, wagashi, and other fancy sweets. There were so many varieties that just looking at them made your mouth water.
Just then, three figures slipped through the scattered crowd and made their way to the seating area. Two of them had large backpacks slung over their shoulders.
"Heitaro, do you remember all the steps I told you?" Qian Xiaoyi asked seriously. "Go over them again to make sure we don't mess anything up."
Inuyama Heita nodded with a determined look and quickly recited, "First, leave our bags at our seats. Then split up and go to opposite ends of the table. Don't take too much of any one food, and don't take any staple dishes. Go easy on the drinks, and try not to draw attention to ourselves. Put each kind of food at one end of the plate so the flavors don't mix. Once the plates are nearly full, add a few things that are hard to carry, like cupcakes, on top as a cover. Then head back to our seats as if nothing happened. Quickly sort the different foods into plastic bags and hide them in our backpacks. Leave the cupcakes and other hard-to-pack foods on the plates. Then walk around while eating, making it look like we're almost done with everything on our plates. When we reach the other end of the table, repeat the whole thing. Most importantly, we can take extra individually wrapped sweets, since they'll keep for a long time."
"Excellent!" Qian Xiaoyi's eyes shone with approval. "You really worked hard to remember everything I told you, Heitaro!"
"I spent all last night memorizing it. I was so excited I couldn't fall asleep until three..." Inuyama Heita looked at the food on the table and swallowed hard. Faint dark circles under his eyes made it clear he wasn't exaggerating.
Suzuki couldn't resist commenting, "Are you an elementary school kid the day before a field trip? What are you two even here for? Is all this really necessary?"
"Hmph! You wouldn't understand. This is a man's war!" Qian Xiaoyi said solemnly. "Heitaro and I haven't eaten a thing since last night, all for this moment."
Inuyama Heita's stomach let out a timely growl.
Suzuki: "..."
"Go, go, go! We can't let them run out of food!" Qian Xiaoyi whispered. The two of them hurried to join the crowd by the long table.
"Boys..." Suzuki sighed. She had just started after them when someone grabbed her from behind.
"Sweetie~ Honestly, you're all grown up and still wandering off. I thought you'd gotten lost!" Mrs. Suzuki held on to her, her voice choked with tears. "Don't go, okay? You worked so hard to become a senior member. Stay here with Mom for a while, all right?"
"Mom, I wasn't going anywhere. I just wanted to get something to eat," Suzuki said awkwardly. "Please don't cry here."
"You said that last time too. You claimed you were going to the restroom, but you were really trying to sneak out early. I won't let you leave this time, no matter what you say."
"Tch..."
Suzuki was still being held up by her mother, while just ten minutes later, Qian Xiaoyi and Inuyama Heita had already completed one circuit and successfully met in the middle of the table. Pretending not to know each other, they picked the remaining food onto their plates. Without turning his head, Qian Xiaoyi asked in a low voice, as if talking to himself, "How'd it go? Did you get the premium yokan?"
Inuyama Heita replied softly, "Yeah, I got several pieces."
"Good. One last round. People have started noticing us, and our bags are nearly full. Time to call it quits." Qian Xiaoyi had become completely absorbed in the joy of stocking up. He placed one last pudding on top of the food, which was stacked into a little tower.
Inuyama Heita was doing the same, carefully keeping his plate balanced as he tried to pile on even more food. Then he thought of something and asked, "Mr. Qian, you've had drinks with President Oiwa several times, haven't you? Aren't you worried he'll recognize you on the spot?"
Qian Xiaoyi nodded toward one side of the hall. Inuyama Heita looked over and saw President Oiwa, looking hale and hearty like a distinguished gentleman, warmly clasping the hand of a senior member as they chatted animatedly. Qian Xiaoyi explained, "Here, he's President Oiwa, a big star—not Harada, the shut-in nobody knows about. Ordinary members aren't worth paying attention to. We're just background extras who help liven up the place. All his attention is on the senior members who bring in plenty of money. Besides, when I drink with him, I dress completely differently from how I do normally. As long as I blend into the crowd, he won't notice me... Oh, look. Here comes the good part."
Near the front row of seats beneath the stage, President Oiwa had been chatting and laughing with someone when an unexpected voice cut into their conversation.
"President Oiwa, you're early today," Matsui said with a smile. "You usually make your grand entrance at the very end of the gathering. What brings you here so early today? And you seem to be in a great mood. Is there some happy news?"
"Yes, there is something wonderful happening today," President Oiwa replied with a smile. "You could say it's a surprise, but I can't tell you until later. You'll just have to wait and see."
"Hahaha, President Oiwa, you really know how to keep a secret," Matsui said. "What a coincidence—I have a surprise for you today, too. How about we see whose surprise is bigger?"
"Sounds good to me," President Oiwa replied playfully. "Then... see you later?"
"See you later." Matsui suddenly asked, "By the way, how's your speech coming along today?" He asked because he had written President Oiwa's speeches for the previous gatherings. This time, he hadn't given him a script, and President Oiwa hadn't asked him for one. They both knew what was coming: there would be no making peace today.
"You don't need to worry about that," President Oiwa replied, narrowing his eyes. "My speech today may be rather special. Do look forward to it."
"I'm always looking forward to your speeches, President Oiwa. If you'll excuse me." Matsui nodded and left, still smiling. He looked around as though searching for someone, then headed toward the buffet table, greeting people along the way.
Seeing him, Qian Xiaoyi said, "Ah, he's coming this way. I'd better go. Remember, just pretend to do what he tells you. I've already arranged everything that comes after."
"Got it," Inuyama Heita replied.
With that, Qian Xiaoyi carefully carried off his towering stack of food, and Matsui arrived in front of Inuyama Heita. "Hello, Heita-kun..."
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