"Hello~ You've reached Mr. At-Your-Service Akashi PI Service. How can I help you? Of course, it depends on my price!"
Akashi's nonsensical talk came from the end of the line. Ren sighed inwardly. For once he hoped his weird friend would stop being a headache to him.
Ren walked over to the couch facing his working table. Slumping on the cozy cushion, he pressed the phone against his ear.
"Do you have any news concerning what I've asked you before?" Ren immediately meant business, didn't have any energy to spare for dealing with Akashi.
"I'm still working on it! But I have found an interesting fact for you~ Do you want to hear it?" Akashi flipped open a document before him. His eyes twinkled as he found what he was searching for.
This was going to be a game-changer.
"What it is?"
Ren's interest was piqued. He was busy with the matter of the company as of late, to top it off with Grandma's birthday celebration. Only now he could contact Akashi to know if his new investigation went smoothly.
"I've made research on the orphanage where Miss Hinata came from. The director is still the same so she remembers her. She said some interesting things. I think these will help you. And your wife, especially."
Without goofing any longer, Akashi relayed his findings to Ren. Ren's brows knitted as he heard them. His gaze turned heavy once Akashi finished reporting.
The moon had risen to the sky, replacing the sun. The night fell as the clouds started pouring rain all of a sudden. The drizzle of the rain brought peace to the surroundings, but not Ren's heart.
"Do you grasp what I'm trying to say?" asked Akashi after Ren remained silent even after he was done speaking. He could sense the change of mood from his friend.
"I have thought of such a possibility but to prove it, it'd take us some time. The things happened more than two decades ago and I don't want to alert anyone," said Ren gravely. He rubbed his aching temple.
"You know only a few people are capable to sniff around you. If he started moving after you began, it'd be the best indicator for sure."
"We'll see. Tomorrow is a good day to start," replied Ren briefly. He hung up the phone.
Ren threw the phone onto the couch. He leaned against the cushion, trying to ease his headache. When he thought he wanted to move forward from the incident, new things resurfaced and made him unable to stay still. Especially when he remembered what Tsubaki had said about her recurring nightmares during their stay at the mountain cabin.
After some time, Ren snapped out of his senses. He got off the couch and went to his room. Once he opened the door, he heard the sound of water splashing inside the bathroom. Apparently Tsubaki was taking a bath after a long day sweating outside.
Tsubaki loved bathing. She could bath or shower herself up to three times a day.
Ren slowly pushed open the door. Tsubaki turned her head, slightly startled with his appearance. She was playing with the bubbles in the bathtub. The sweet scent of strawberry filled the bathroom.
"You used the new bath bomb?" asked Ren.
He slowly sat on the edge of the tub, looking at her wife who was sitting against the bathtub filled with bubbles. She had tied up her hair into a bun to avoid wetting it.
"Yes!" Tsubaki blew some bubbles towards her husband. She giggled when Ren poked the bubbles with his index finger. "The smell is heavenly. I want to try the rose one next."
"Grandma gave me some of her favorite brands. Let's try them some time."
"Okay!"
"Okay, sweetheart. Enjoy your bath. I won't bother you." Ren reached out one hand and gently stroked her head. "I'll organize the ingredients we bought for the cookies and cake first. I'll help you to make them."
"Thank you, dear," Tsubaki smiled.
Ren smiled warmly. He stood up from the edge of the bathtub and went outside. Choosing a set of home clothes, he changed out of his casual outfit for today's outing. He gathered his dirty clothes and put them inside a laundry basket. After being satisfied with the room's clean state, he went downstairs.
Tsubaki appeared after almost 15 minutes had passed. She seemed refreshed in her pastel yellow home clothes. She still carried the sweet fragrance from her bath, tempting Ren to kiss her senseless. But he knew their job wouldn't be done if he did so. In the end, he compromised with only peppered her little face with small kisses.
"So, could we start now, princess?" Ren asked while helping her tying her apron around her waist.
"I'll pre-heat the oven first. We could start with the cake."
"Alright."
Ren went straight into his helping mode as Tsubaki instructed him on what should be done. He helped with the minor things while concentrating on what Tsubaki was doing.
After some time, the cake was being baked in the oven. Tsubaki started with the sugar cookies next. She brought out cookie cutters in the shape of a ball, kite and car from her collection. The sugar icings had been made, separated into a few bowls in different colors.
"You even have those?" asked Ren in awe.
"I want to shape the cookies into kitten heads and small hearts but I think Kou wouldn't like that." Tsubaki laughed while rolling the dough into the desired thickness.
"You could make them for me. I'll gladly bring those to the office."
"Okay! Please expect them sooner!" replied Tsubaki excitedly.
Ren took a cookie cutter and began his work once Tsubaki finished rolling the dough. He did his work as carefully as possible. He didn't want to ruin his wife's hard work.
She let him cut the cookies into the intended shapes while she went to check on the cake. She was glad because the cake was baked into perfection. The cream frosting for the cake had been waiting on the kitchen island.
As Tsubaki looked at her husband and her creations, she smiled in delight. She hoped Kou would love these. Even she herself didn't know how could a mere encounter with the little boy made her so fond of him.
It was like they were connected to each other.