Rosa must be the one. (Pink Trigger)

Maybe Rosa knew something about it? I thought all of the Ushiromiya women were beautiful in their own ways, but Rosa was the youngest. She seemed like she might be the hippest and trendiest, as well... the one most likely to know how to have a good time. Also, frankly, she was the only one who wasn't married, so I felt the least guilty about getting her involved with this. That was excluding Shannon, of course, but I couldn't trust the notoriously clumsy maid for it. I asked Eva if she could find out if Rosa knew about erotic dance.

"Rosa, huh? Hmhm... Actually, I can imagine her knowing a thing or two about that," Eva commented with a far-too-sunny smile on her face. "I'm sure I can dig it out of her. Just keep yourself hidden and listen in until I give the sign, all right? I don't want Rosa getting a whiff of this money if she isn't any use to us."

What a warm and loving sister! I kept my thoughts to myself as I ducked into a nearby closet. I'd wait to hear Eva's voice again...

I was practically able to time their arrival to my mental image. Eva would wake Rosa up and ask her to talk about a sensitive subject. That would probably wake Rosa right up. She'd assume it had something to do with an alliance during the family conference. Then, she'd lead Rosa to the hall. And...

... Only lagging a second behind my imagination, I heard their footsteps in the hall. Eva had brought her sister right over to me, and I could hear she'd already started her pitch.

"Rosa, Hideyoshi has been asking me for the strangest thing lately. I can't talk to anyone else about this, but you and I can trust each other, right? I'm coming to you with it as a sign of trust. It'd be a little embarrassing to have it getting around the family."

"... Of course," Rosa's relatively meek voice came back, although she sounded more confused than anything else. "I'll help if I can. What has... Hideyoshi been asking you for?"

"Oh, it's the silliest thing! He must have heard from a friend of his that wives my age can... you know, spice up the bedroom, in a way... by doing a sexy dance!" I heard Eva lower her voice, then titter in a catty way. "Isn't that the craziest thing?"

"Y-yes, Sister, that certainly is interesting," Rosa returned in an uneven voice, not seeming to know what kind of response Eva was looking for. "So, what did you need me to do...?"

"Rosa... I was simply wondering, as a woman still, ahem, 'on the hunt,' if you might have some skill in that area. Some techniques from the modern young woman?"

"I'm afraid not." Rosa sounded pissed, obviously. How could she take a question like that on such a touchy subject any way other than an insult? I didn't think Rosa's marital situation was even clear enough to declare her "on the hunt" without hitting a nerve. "If you'll excuse me-"

"Oh, sorry! I wasn't clear. The women who teach that kind of thing are well paid, aren't they? So, if you did happen to know something about it, and were able to teach me... I could pay you. I'd be willing to give you... this much. Right here, up front, if you could only give me a little proof."

I heard a long pause. Finally, Rosa's voice came up again. "Sister, that's... quite a lot of money, just to make things hot in the bedroom!" That could well be the case... I'd already sent Eva some money as a start, before, so she'd have a sum to throw around. Nothing like what I'd promised her now, of course.

I heard Eva pause. I could practically feel her holding back a biting retort. When she spoke, she'd tempered her natural venom. "Yes, but I think it's worth it. Depending on if you're any good, hmhmhm... What do you think? Am I wasting my time? I'll just put this back up-"

"N-no! Umm, if it's for you and your husband, of course, I can show you what I know. Although it's nothing special..."

"By all means! Please, try your hardest."

Then, there was silence.

There was speaking, but... noises. Enticing noises... I heard what had to be Rosa's boots on the carpet and the swish of her black skirt. What was she doing? What kinds of moves was she making?! I tried to bring my eye to the keyhole to peer through... Dammit, this door has no lock, so of course there's no keyhole! I wanted to see so badly...!

I heard hushed clapping, the gesture without the impact. "I'm impressed, Rosa! You're quite talented in certain ways, aren't you?"

"N-nonsense, Sister." Even though she said that, I thought Rosa sounded pretty pleased with what she'd pulled off. "I don't know how much time we have for a lesson, but I could teach you, if you like. Ahem. And, of course, if you're paying what you suggested before."

"Hm? Oh, that? No, Rosa, that was a joke."

I heard Rosa's voice catch in her throat. She was probably humiliated, having been strung on by her sister. She didn't realize Eva was still playing around with her. As expected, Eva continued.

"That's nothing compared to what I really want from you, and what you really stand to earn. Player, introduce yourself."

That, obviously, was the cue. I emerged from the closet gingerly, not sure how close they'd be standing on the other side. Greetings, Ushiromiya Rosa... I am H.I. Player, an associate of your sister.

Rosa's jaw dropped and she backed against the wall away from me, a stranger, as she took note of the ballroom mask I was wearing. She'd probably begun to understand she'd been roped into something very unusual. "Sister... Eva, who is this...?"

"Mr. Player is a wealthy and mysterious stranger prepared to make you a rare offer, Rosa." Eva leaned on her sister's shoulders and whispered to her in a quiet voice. Obviously, if she was explaining the details of my plan, it stood to reason this was the critical point not to be overheard. She had a wide, mischievous grin on her face... She was probably just as curious to see how Rosa would react to this as I was.

As I watched, Rosa's wide-eyed disbelief grew and grew. Her eyes darted from me to her sister... and then, finally, to my briefcase. "In... there...?"

I nodded. I held the briefcase up, unlatched it, and tilted it open just enough to give a glimpse of the contents.

Rosa's pupils dilated for a moment as she saw it, and I thought she might actually scream. Instead, she leaned against the wall behind her, took a deep breath... then, another... then, finally spoke. "I have to... do that... for Battler, and then... and then, all of that's mine?"

Intentionally or not, Eva had skipped over some details. I shook my head, then filled Rosa in on how it actually worked. After that, I told Rosa I'd love it if she'd show me what she was capable of, right here, before we made our deal.

"You're kidding!" Rosa replied, her embarrassment finally overtaking her natural shock as color rose to her face. "N-Natsuhi is right over there in the parlor. A servant could walk by any second! Am I misunderstanding what you're looking for, exactly?!"

"Why not? You just showed me something pretty exciting, Rosa!" Eva continued to push and tease her younger sister, seeming to lean on her harder. "Didn't you see how much money that was? I think the man deserves a show of good faith!"

"I'm good for it, I am!" The younger mother begged me, clasping her hands together. As if to try and make it clear she was the one being reasonable while her sister was being crazy, she brought her voice back to an even level, then gave me a friendly smile. "It's just, you know, for an actual... performance, like my sister is talking about... you'd ordinarily want some music, right? Just let me show her some steps privately, for now. Okay?"

Hmm... Not okay. I'd really like a way to make that private lesson more public...