“Who says I have something to say?” Kota replied with a deadpan face.

“I know you, Subaru. You never ask me to come for a smoke unless there is something wrong. Talk.”

“Showing your true colors as a Big Boss I see.” Kota’s mouth twitched and a snicker escaped his lips.

“You know what they say, ‘a leopard never changes its spots.” Asakura grinned. 

As his lips moved, a wisp of gray smoke escaped from the corner of his mouth.

Looking at him, Kota felt the sudden urge to laugh. This man was truly wild and unpredictable. But that was exactly what worried him. 

Not wanting to drag the conversation longer, Kota took a deep breath and dived right into the subject.

“Father wants me to tell you that it’s ok to invest in the books we manage, as well as the movies that are adapted from them. However, don’t ever think about eyeing the company.”

“Haaa?!”

In his shock, Asakura’s mouth opened so wide that his cigarette was on the verge of falling to the ground. He quickly recovered his wits and plucked it between his fingers. His expression as he looked at Kota was that of a man suspecting his friend of being possessed by a dumb spirit.

“Has old Kota-san woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Or has he taken the wrong medicine the night before? Tell me, why the heck would I be interested in his company?”

“Maybe you aren't, but that other person might be.” 

After saying that, Kota sighed and closed his eyes. A second later, his eyelashes fluttered and he groaned. 

“They have started another cold war.”

“Again? But I thought things were settled between them. Hasn’t your father already agreed to let your brother handle his own business?”

“Mh.” Kota nodded. “They had reached a settlement.”

“Then why are they fighting again?” 

Asakura paused. Barely a moment later, though, his eyebrows shot up, almost getting lost under his fringe. 

“Wait! More importantly, why the hell am I being dragged into their fight?”

Kota let out a chuckle as he replied, pointing at Asakura’s chest with a finger for effect.

“Because you get along with that person.”

“Which eye of yours saw that we get along? Tell me, or else I will have them both poked out and checked thoroughly before giving them back to you.” 

Asakura grumbled, his raised eyebrows climbing down and settling into a frown. He puffed out smoke like an old locomotive, while his eyes were throwing daggers at Kota.

Sensing that his friend was utterly annoyed by now, Kota decided to beat a retreat. He shook his head and spoke in a willful tone. 

“Ah, who is to say what the ins and outs of their matter are? Just leave them be and they will settle their score soon. You just have to be careful not to get swept along by the current.”

With that, the conversation ended and Asakura was left feeling even more vexed than before.

Even so, he wasn’t one to fret over things that may or may not happen in the future, unless he could deal with them before they happened. In the current situation, though, he had no other choice but to wait and see. Whether he would be dragged as a sacrificial piece in a game of chess between father and son, or he would be lucky enough to escape, it was all a matter for the future. He would deal with it when the situation occurs. 

When he finally got home, Asakura decided to put everything aside and focus solely on what he currently had to do. And that was handling the upcoming trip to the mountain.

~~~

The day of the departure finally arrived. When they all gathered at the meeting point, Asakura was given a big shock. 

From the publishing company, instead of just Keita and Rintarou, there was also someone unexpected accompanying them.

"Why is it like this?" Asakura groaned, brushing a hand across his face. "I can somehow, even though reluctantly, understand why Kurosawa came. But why are you here... Subaru?" He asked, turning to glare at Kota.

The man he felt like choking half to death was now standing right next to him, wearing a very pleased expression on his face.

"What, so you mean one of my Editors can be here, but I can’t?" Kota inquired indignantly, raising a thin eyebrow. "If you must really know, I'm here to protect my most favorite writer."

"From whom and what exactly are you trying to protect him?"

"From you. Who knows what you might do at night when you feel lonely? This way, I'll share a room with you and make sure you behave." Kota replied, displaying one of his trademark teasing smiles.

"Shouldn't you be more worried about that idiot over there?" Asakura asked with a blank face, pointing at Rintarou who, just at that moment, was very busy hugging Keita.

"Yes, well... I guess that can't be helped." Kota coughed, trying to hide his amusement.

Asakura let out a deep, tired sigh. 

There was no way he could make this person go away, so he could only grit his teeth and put up with Kota's teasing for the time being. In the end, it might be even better to have him there. That way, it won't be too awkward between him, Keita and Kurosawa.

With this thought in mind, Asakura reluctantly allowed Kota to join them. 

But no sooner had they arrived at their destination, that another problem arose.

Initially, when he reserved the rooms at the inn, Asakura made sure to book one with a single bed for himself. Now, with Kota's arrival, they had to find an alternative, otherwise they would have to bunk together. 

Two grown men, sleeping together in a bed that wasn't even king-size… There was no way that could be acceptable. 

Consequently, the moment he arrived, Asakura went straight to the front desk in an attempt to resolve the situation.

"I apologize, sir. Unfortunately, there are no other rooms available." The clerk told him apologetically.

"Isn't there something that can be done in this case?" Asakura demanded impatiently, causing the clerk to become flustered.

"Uhm, well... Maybe we could... I mean..." The young man stuttered.

"Just say it!"

"I mean I could try... to ask the people who just booked the last room earlier today. Perhaps they… they might agree to exchange the room with yours.” As the clerk said that, he began to sound more and more confident. “The one you reserved has a great view of the mountainside compared to theirs, so it might convince them to move." 

"Great. Let's go with that! Contact them immediately and settle this as quickly as possible." Asakura spoke in a commanding tone.