Chapter 182. [Development Cooperation]

<<Iroha, it’s so nice to see you!>>

<<I feel the same way!>>

I was hugging a certain woman in a convenience store parking lot.

Of course, it was just a friendly hug and not in a romantic sense.

<<Is Iroha cheating on someone?>>

A cry of anguish came from behind.

Oh, I told her to “wait in the car”.

<<Hey, don’t say such mean things. Besides, who would I be cheating with?>>

<<Iroha is mine!>>

<<To clarify, we’re not actually dating, right?>>

<<Cheaters always say that!>>

Angu Ogu was making a dramatic appeal, crying out loudly.

Ignoring the fuss, I continued talking to the woman.

<<Nice to meet you.>>

<<Likewise. It’s an honor to finally meet Iroha in person.>>

<<Oh, please. And thanks for coming all the way to pick me up.>>

<<It’s no trouble at all. After all, I’m the one who asked you to.>>

Although this was our first time meeting in person.

We had been friends online for a long time.

Angu Ogu, watching our friendly interaction, had wide eyes.

<<Hey, Iroha, who is this really? How do you know each other? A VTuber…? There’s no way Iroha would want to meet one.>>

<<Nice to meet you. I’m Iroha’s best friend. We’re… well if you want to put it in a certain way, we’ve made a promise for the future.>>

<<!?!?!?!?!>>

<<Iroha, explain what’s going on!>>

<<Well…>>

The woman had a mischievous smile on her face.

She was clearly teasing Angu Ogu.

<<Ogu, this is an incredibly talented engineer.>>

<<In situations like this, I prefer to introduce myself as a former GoGol employee. It seems to make things easier for everyone.>>

<<Oh, is that so? Why did you leave your previous job?>>

<<Because GoGol was just boring. It was the same thing every day.>>

To think someone would call the mighty GoGol “boring”.

That’s a statement only a true genius could make.

<<I first contacted Iroha right after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize… So, Iroha and I have been friends for about half a year.>>

<<Is that so?>>

Angu Ogu muttered quietly.

Thank goodness she understood that we were just business partners.

<<I can’t believe it. Iroha has been friends with this cat burglar for so long!>>

<<Why would you say that?>>

<<But you just said that! You said you want to get married eventually!>>

<<I never said that!>>

<<Iroha, you fool! You player! Casanova! I’ve never been on a drive date either!>>

Angu Ogu was grabbing onto me and shaking me.

I tried to calm her down and explain.

<<It’s not like that. Today, I heard that Angu Ogu is busy, right? But it’s not safe for her to go out alone. So, I just offered to pick her up. There are other people with her when we get there.>>

<<Could it be that there’s more than one affair partner?!>>

<<Did you not hear anything I said!? Ugh, forget it. Anyway, thanks for driving me this far.>>

I lived in an apartment, and we had some distance to cover to get here.

I rode in Angu Ogu’s car as she headed to her lesson, and we arrived at this meeting place.

While it might have been possible for the woman to pick me up directly at my apartment, it’s not just me there. It’s Angu Ogu’s home as well.

I didn’t want to spread the address unnecessarily. It’s a matter of VIP consideration.

<<Just use me and toss me aside when you’re done…>>

<<Hey.>>

<<Iroha, at least take one of my bodyguards with you. Make sure you’re not cheating!>>

<<Don’t try to use the Secret Service for personal matters!>>

<<But really, if something were to happen to Iroha.>>

Angu Ogu was making a joke.

But she seemed genuinely concerned.

I thought for a moment and gave a serious response.

<<Their job is to protect Ogu, right? Is it okay to ask them to do something like that?>>

<<Well…>>

The head of the Secret Service is not Angu Ogu but her mom.

It would be more appropriate to get permission from her.

Neglecting their actual duties and failing to protect Angu Ogu wouldn’t be a joke.

Besides, it would be disrespectful to give them non-work-related tasks.

<<So, it’s fine by myself. Ogu, you should be getting to her lesson now.>>

<<Ugh. But…>>

<<Come on, go already.>>

I pushed Angu Ogu into the car and urged her on.

Otherwise, she might keep whining.

The secret service personnel started the car and drove away.

As we moved further away, Angu Ogu was still shouting.

<<Iroha, if anything happens, make sure to contact me immediately, okay?! I mean it!>>

She continued waving her hand from the back seat window until she was no longer visible.

Oh, she can be quite a handful.

<<Well then, Iroha, shall we go too?>>

<<Yes, let’s.>>

I also got into the woman’s truly American-style car.

While starting the engine, she started a conversation.

<<To be honest, I didn’t think you’d actually come.>>

<<I came. Because it was the closest thing to what I wanted to do.>>

<<Oh, it wasn’t just a side trip for the VTuber stuff?>>

<<Of course, it’s for VTuber. It’s all connected.>>

<<Haha, I see. You’re that type of person.>>

I looked out the window and recalled the day when I first met Angu Ogu, which now felt like a long time ago.

The night we stayed over, we talked, and I found what I really wanted to do. That led me to the nonprofit organization that deals with “natural language processing”.