Fuse Corporation.
Knock! Knock!
After knocking the door, Matsuzaki entered the CEO's office with a bag in his right hand. His Master was busy looking over the files regarding the development of Summer City Hotel in the near future. The six stars hotel would be build above a shopping mall which would carry luxury brands. The project would be developed on a vast land located near a popular beach.
"President, it's time for lunch."
"Just get me the usual," Ren didn't look up from the files. He wanted to finish review these before he took a short break for Grandma Fuse's birthday celebration.
"Madam sent your lunch here."
That remark instinctively brought Ren's attention to Matsuzaki. He frowned, didn't quite understand what his assistant had said.
"What do you say?"
Matsuzaki placed the bag that contained his Master's lunch box on the table. He hesitated when he remembered what Hibiki had told him to say when their boss asked. Gathering his courage, he spoke his Madam's words one-by-one. "Madam called Hibiki over to her bakery. She said you must finish your lunch box if you don't want to face any consequences at home."
Ren's eyes narrowed dangerously. Matsuzaki gulped, feeling chilly all of a sudden.
"Don't you want your lunch break?"
Sensing the hidden meaning, Matsuzaki squared his shoulder. "Yes, Master! I'll go now!"
Matsuzaki quickly left the office, wanting to save his life. He closed the door while muttering under his breath. He should just force Hibiki to bring the lunch box here! Why did that guy have to depend on him? To be his cannon fodder? What if their boss suddenly threw another workload on him during this lunch hour? He would exact his revenge on Hibiki if that were to happen.
Once Matsuzaki left, Ren held the bag and went to the dining table beside the glass wall. He carefully untied the sash. A two tier lunch box was placed inside the bag. He unlocked the clips that holding them together before arranging them in front of him. There was no coldness left in his eyes. He smiled, feeling warm.
Taking out his phone from the inside of his pocket, he dialed Tsubaki's number. It didn't take long before his call got connected.
"Hello."
His smile grew wider. "I don't know that I have a Lunch Box Fairy with me. I got a delivery from her. Seems like she wants me to eat well."
Her chuckle further lifted his mood. He could imagine the radiance emanated from her smiling face.
"The fairy heard that you would usually have sandwiches for lunch. How could she allow that?" Tsubaki just followed her husband's humor. Remembering something, she quickly added, "Oh, and don't be angry at Matsuzaki. I was the one who asked him. If I didn't ask, do you expect you could last long living like that?"
"Yes, wifey. I'll listen to you." Ren laughed. "But, I'd love it more if you could come accompany me."
"Some other time, then."
Tsubaki agreed. She thought she could occasionally visit her husband at work, making sure he ate well. It wasn't that she didn't know that Ren had intentionally suggesting that. She knew Ren didn't mind making a trip to her bakery for them to have lunch together but she didn't want him to be overwork. She had much free time than him so thought she should make the trip then.
When a person was in love, he or she wouldn't feel a burden when doing even a simple thing for their beloved.
"I'm going to Spring City with Kaede. Eat your lunch and rest for a while after that."
"Okay. See you at home. And be safe."
Ren remembered their conversation last night. Tsubaki might be looking for Grandma's present right now. Knowing that Kaede was with her, he felt at ease. His shadow guards didn't inform him anything so he knew everything was under control.
"Okay. See you at home."
Before she hung up, Ren quickly added. "I love you."
"... I love you."
Beep!
Ren laughed when he heard her being flustered before hanging up the phone. Her cheeks must be flushing red right now. It was a shame because he couldn't see it with his own eyes. Shaking his head in amusement, he started eating the meal that had been carefully prepared by his wife.
As he was enjoying his lunch, something was nagging at the back of his head. He remembered her request last night. The way her eyes looked at him with love and worry made him felt guilty. He understood her concerns. He didn't want to drag her inside this mess but he couldn't deny the fact that she could become the key to solve it.
Forcing her to remember her nightmare from five years ago?
He would rather die than let her experience it again!
As he was thinking, his phone rang again. He put the chopsticks down before answering the call. Akashi. His friend left for City Q last night and hadn't contacted him since. He could sense something ominous was lurking nearby. Trying to calm his heart, he answered the call with his usual nonchalance tone.
"What do you find?"
"He's alive! Yagi Takashi is alive!"
His eyes flickered, didn't expect to hear Akashi to bring the news. Ren straightened his back, his left hands curled into a fist.
"Tell me everything."
"I met someone, an old man, he knew Mr. Yagi. He came here a few days ago before he left abruptly. Genzo was his name. Now, we could confirm that Yagi Takashi has indeed alive. It would make things easier from now on!"
While Akashi sounded excited with what he had found out, Ren didn't share his sentiment. He couldn't help but feeling afraid. The sense of helplessness suffocated him.
He was afraid.
Afraid of unraveling the mystery. Afraid of letting her to get hurt again. Afraid of luring danger her way.
He needed to make a decision.
Ren closed his eyes. Fighting off the thoughts inside his head, he muttered out, "Come back."
"...what?"
"Come back to the city. Now."
"Eh? You don't want me to further investigate it?" Akashi was bewildered. Why did Ren suddenly tell him to come back?
"I will tell you once you arrive. Call me then."
"Okay..." Akashi didn't have a choice but to follow Ren's decision. He could sense something was wrong with his friend. He agreed to meet him later. He too had something he wanted to reveal.
Ren threw out his phone after the call ended. He felt exhausted. Maybe his searching was a mistake to begin with. Maybe he should just let the past be buried as time went by. Maybe he should just live happily with Tsubaki without having to worry about the incident.
His eyes dimmed. This was one of the rare moment when he felt lost. And, as usual, his longing for her intensified. He really, really wanted to go and hug her right now.