(Ahh, just like I'd thought, this tea is wonderfully fragrant......)
(Buying this tea set was the right choice. It's flawless in form and function)
(I'm not entirely satisfied with that special mission, but discovering this in that restaurant was a lucky break)
(Maybe I should brew myself a sampling of Chinese teas as a treat—)
Oh? Are you partaking in Chinese tea this morning?
Tch...... Victor......
It's quite the elegant pastime to enjoy such aromatic beverages. Were you previously in possession of that such a tea set?
Ah, I bought a new one......
Ahhh, so you found it in Chinatown, no?
I believe you were frequenting a Chinese restaurant for your special mission...... Do they stock such products there as well?
Why are you asking me that...... it's none of your business
(...... Does he suspect something?)
(Could it be...... he caught wind that I'm giving a hand at the restaurant, and not just teaching self-defense classes?)
(I'd figured it would be a pain if Victor or Gast knew, so I left them in the dark......)
I'm merely attempting to assuage my curiosity. It had piqued my interest when I heard that the Academy's last principal was the manager
He was actively teaching while I was a student there
Hmm......?
That aside, what are you hiding?
Wha!?
What makes you think I'm hiding anything......?
Your attempts at secrecy are simple to ascertain
Haah? What are you playing at...... Is it mentalism again, or more of your creepy statistics?
That's all utter nonsense. It doesn't apply to everyone—
No, it's neither mentalism nor analytical statistics
In your case, when you're attempting to hide something, there's an easily identifiable tell
Huh
You would fix it were I to elucidate, so I won't tell you what it is
T-Tell me......!
No...... you must be bluffing. If you knew I had a tell like that, you would’ve seen through everything I've ever hidden
Oh, so you've been concealing that much from me?
Tch!
Well, that's all right. It's of no interest to me
To that end, I wouldn't spot something hidden if I had no interest in it. Such as this matter
......?
So, what are you trying to hide? I suppose it may be that the former principal has caused you some trouble
He was the type to make outlandish requests and push people around......
............
Some time later…
I see. While you were meant to only assist with the self-defense classes, you were pressed into serving at that Chinese restaurant......
It seems that he remains in the habit of coercing others into the unreasonable
Ugh, don't enjoy this just because it's not your problem
And...... Don't you dare tell Nova about this
And why should I not?
Because he'll obviously make it a thing! If you tell him I'm working someplace, he's bound to go there to check in on me
Well, there is an 82.67% chance that he would come and see you
But would there be any harm in that? Would it not be the same as him cheering you on at [LOM]?
Long ago, I attended a piano recital of yours with Nova and the robots. Were you not pleased at the time?
T-That's not the same thing at all!
It's my first time working in customer service
If I had to say, it has the same vibe as when I ran my first errand...... There's significance to me going it alone
I'd thought that I had completed that errand to perfection, so the emotion I felt when I spied Nova peeking out at me from behind a building was......
Hm...... I'm not sure I understand that, but I can comprehend your request. My lips shall be sealed around Nova
Hmph, they better be. I'll hold you to that
—Welcome in. How many guests will be dining with us today?
Thank you, please follow me to your table
(Phew...... there's a lot to keep in mind when it comes to customer service. And of course, it had to be completely different from what I had to mind teaching self-defense)
(But I'm getting used to it, and with how it's going today—)
Marion-chama~~~~~!
Wha......
I found Marion-chama! He's really working here~!
Keep it up, Marion. I'm glad to see you doing well at work
W-Why are Jack and Jacqueline...... could it be!?
Wahh, it's really him. Yahoo~o, Mario~~~n! ♪
N-Nova......
And you......! Victor!
I assure you, I kept my silence as promised
Huh......
The one who told Nova you were working here was the former Academy principal...... the manager of this restaurant
I didn't go to the Academy, but I did delivery robots and equipment for in-class use
I was close enough to the old principal that we still get in touch time to time~
I'd heard that he was in your debt for that special mission, so I reached out to say hello and learned that you were also helping out at the restaurant......
So of course I had to come see Marion at his very first customer service job myself!
Such is the love of a parent
Nano!
............
C'mon Marion, we'll be just like any old customers. Don't you worry about it
You can do your job like we're not even here～♪
Jack, do you have a camera?
Nova updated my camera function to the latest firmware yesterday, so it's all set
Heh. It seems it was useless to try to hide it after all
Sh...... Shut your damn mouth!!!
TL Notes: The title of this story comes from the proverb:「天知る、地知る、我知る、人知る」, literally “heaven knows, earth knows, oneself knows, people know”. Or more explicitly put:
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. (Luke 12:2-3)
Sorry for making you read Bible verses in the translation notes of a mobage story but I feel like this gets the gist of the full parable that originated the original Japanese proverb more effectively than I can summarize.
Mentalism is a psychic-adjacent performing art in which its practitioners appear to be able to read and predict people’s thoughts based on their physical observations of them. Think Sherlock, or Apollo Justice if that’s more your speed.