By the time the sun was setting, Ren had come out from his office. He wanted to get to the old house as soon as possible. Matsuzaki and his subordinates from the secretarial department were already gathering their personal belongings. All of them gave respectful bows to their boss that had already headed to his personal elevator.
"Sometimes, I'm still not used to our Boss going back home on time," One of the secretaries spoke, his eyes were directed to the closed doors of the elevator.
"We have to thank our Lady Boss for this matter," His friend grinned. "I've had enough of overtime. The other departments rarely have overtime but our department is different! How could we bear to leave work if the President was still staying here?"
His sentiment was readily agreed by the rest of his colleagues in the secretarial department. Matsuzaki who was watching them from the side sighed heavily.
Yes... They were really should be grateful to Madam.
Ren buckled his seat belt, preparing to leave the parking basement. His personal phone rang in the air, he took a glance and saw Akashi's name. He swiftly answered it, his gaze was calm despite the sudden surprise.
"How about it?" He immediately threw a question without waiting for a greeting.
"About that... Ms. Nakamura refused to say anything," Akashi let out a heavy sigh, it was obvious that he was dejected over the fact he was unsuccessful in persuading the old lady to speak to him. "She didn't seem angry when I asked her, it was more like she was reminded of something sad. I'm still here, trying to persuade her again."
Ren hummed, his index finger tapping on the steering wheel. After a long pause, he spoke, "You haven't said anything about Tsubaki?"
"No... I want to ask for your permission first," Akashi did have the idea but he was afraid if something untoward would happen if he told the old lady about Tsubaki. "Do you think she would speak if I showed her your wife's photo?"
"Yes," Ren nodded even though Akashi couldn't see him. "If she was still saddened over the matter that happened more than two decades ago, there's a high chance that she would help if we reveal our chess piece. I think that she was closed to Fujioka Masami."
"Alright, I'll do that." Akashi agreed with Ren's view. He hung up, getting ready to meet Ms. Nakamura when the morning came.
Ren's drive to the old house was slowed down by heavy traffic. It wasn't until 7:50 PM did he safely arrive. Old Yuuzo greeted him at the door. He gave his coat to the old butler.
"Has everyone seated in the dining room?" Ren unbuttoned his cuffs and folded his sleeves layer by layer, his action was unhurried as he stepped inside the long hallways. Old Yuuzo followed him from his side.
"Only the Old Madam and Ms. Kasumi in the dining room, the Madam is still in your room, Master," Old Yuuzo answered.
"My wife is still sleeping?" Ren wasn't a stranger to Tsubaki's new resting schedule. She was prone to sleeping nowadays so he didn't find it weird for her to sleep at this time.
"Madam locked herself in the room after lunch," Old Yuuzo appeared troubled as he recalled how the young lady walked upstairs with her head hung low as if she was in a loss. "We tried to call her but she said she's tired. She said she'd just lay on the bed."
Ren's lips parted, a bad feeling crawled in his heart.
"Grandma didn't ask anything?"
"The Old Madam is worried but she said it's best to wait for Master's arrival," Old Yuuzo glanced at the direction of the dining room. "Old Madam Fuse tried to talk to Madam but Madam said she was just sleepy. The Old Madam didn't want to force Madam so that's the reason we waited for you to come home."
"I got it," Ren nodded. He turned around, wanting to go upstairs as soon as possible. "Tell Grandma and Aunt to eat first. Please don't worry about Tsubaki. I know what to do."
His tall silhouette disappeared at a corner, the sound of his steady footsteps turned into a dash. Within seconds he had stood in front of the bedroom door. Ren raised his hand, he knocked twice, trying to tell Tsubaki that someone was at the door.
Hearing no response, Ren turned the doorknob open.
What greeted his sight was a dim room, only the moonlight drifted in through the slit of the curtains illuminated the inside of the room. She was sitting on the bed, her back was facing him as she stared off the windows. The end of her long hair fluttered slightly as the summer wind blew in through the opened windows.
Ren was mindful of his steps as he slowly approaching her. His wife was lost in her own world. Even when he was standing a few feet away from her, she still didn't register his presence. At that time, his gaze drifted to one side of the bed. The two matching necklaces laid there, the lockets were opened, revealing both photos.
Ever since that day, his wife would keep both necklaces closed to her wherever she went somewhere.
"Tsubaki... Sweetheart..."
Ren lightly rubbed her head. Her shoulders jolted up in shock. Tsubaki turned around and jerked up her chin to meet his worried gaze. Her eyes widening and her lips parted but there was no word came out of her mouth.
"Ren!"
Tsubaki jumped and hugged the tall man. Ren bent his body backward as he received a sudden impact coming to his chest. Afraid of her falling down, he immediately secured her in his arms. Tsubaki had already stuck to him like a koala, her slender arms had found their place around his waist.
Ren looked down, he ran a hand through her silky hair. His deep voice was full of concern as he asked, "Why, sweetheart? Are you bothered by something?"
When Old Yuuzo reported to him regarding his wife's behavior, Ren knew something had happened. Only one thing could affect Tsubaki like this. It must be related to her past.
"I... I just..."
Tsubaki realized she had just unconsciously reacted without thinking. She retracted her hands, wanted to pull away from him but Ren tightened his embrace.
"Don't go," Ren breathed at the side of her face. "I'm sorry, I wasn't here right when you need me."
"No... it's not anyone's fault..." Tsubaki answered weakly. She returned back to his embrace.
Her mind wandered to when she was looking through the guest invitations. She told Aunt Kasumi that she was sleepy and she immediately confined herself in the room. Grandma asked her to come and have dinner but she gave the old lady an excuse. Grandma was too kind. Her intuition told her something was wrong yet Grandma didn't pester her for answers.
Ren looked down, trying to see his wife's expression right now. Under the dim moonlight, only sadness and fear imbued in her eyes. Her lips quivered as she stared back at him in silence.
"What happened?" Ren asked in a low voice, the corners of his lips turned up faintly as he tried to soothe her. "Mind to tell me, sweetheart?"
Tsubaki was still silently looking back at him as she paused to think. Under his encouraging gaze, she nodded.
Ren led her to the bed where she sat earlier. He saw her fiddling with the hem of her skirt, her eyes darted from left to right before it landed on the bedside. Ren followed her gaze, a familiar white card and envelope fell in the line of his sight.
It was their wedding invitation.
Ren glanced at his wife who was biting her lower lip before he stretched out his hand to pick the card. The design of the wedding invitation was simplistic yet remained elegant. The folded white card only had their names and a short greeting to the invited guests as well as thin lines in gold print swirled at the edges of the card as a simple decoration. Inside, the details regarding the wedding were printed.
When he saw the name of the guest, a realization dawned on him.
It was the invitation to the Soumas. He had understood why did his wife behave this way.
"Was it the same as you suspected?" As much as he thought the same, he still asked her.
"En."
Her simple acknowledgment was enough to make him embracing her again.
In her bright eyes, the usual light that brightened her brown orbs had dimmed. Besides fear and nervousness, he caught a hint of helplessness in them.
Ren opened the card. His eyes directly went to the neat signature and a short warm wish from the guest.
"Although the signature is different, the way the message was written is the same," Ren concluded after taking time to self-analyze the handwriting on the card. The handwriting was distinct and had its own color, which made him certain of himself. "The Fujioka Masami who met Director Ayanokouji was indeed Mrs. Souma."
Tsubaki nodded. A lump was stuck in her throat as she stared at the card in her husband's hand.
The moment she saw the signature and handwriting of Mrs. Souma, her heart stopped beating for a second before it suddenly pounded hard in her chest. Afraid of Aunt Kasumi realizing her unnatural expression, she made up an excuse before going upstairs to their bedroom.
But, from the way Grandma and Old Yuuzo came to see her earlier she knew they were worried about her yet they gave her some space.
"Darling, Mrs. Souma meant no harm, right? When she went to see Hinata years ago?" Tsubaki smiled bitterly as a gentle face flashed in her mind.
They might not know each other for a long period of time but never did Tsubaki felt awkward whenever she talked to the elegant lady. Mrs. Souma treated her like she was someone close to her.
She refused to believe all of her kind gestures were just an act.
The darkness in his gaze deepened, hiding the ache he felt for her behalf. Ren put the card down on the bed, he stretched out his hands and once again he embraced her. He let her laid her head comfortably on his chest as he stroked her hair.
"You might doubt a lot of things but, I hope you'd stay true to what you have believed in your heart."
Ren's deep voice resounded lowly. His tone was calm as a spring lake, in contrast with the loud beating of his heart that reverberated against Tsubaki's ear as he held her close. In the quiet of the room, the sound of their heart beating weaving with one another.
"We are close to the truth," Ren added again with a sigh. He was still stroking her head even though the tips of his fingers started trembling.
"You're strong, my wife is a strong lady but there would be a time you'd be exhausted over it. I don't want you to crumble in front of the truth, sweetheart. If you did..." His calm voice quivered slightly as the turbulence of his emotions creating hard waves in his heart. He lowered down his gaze, his defenses fell apart under her gaze filled with thin mist layering her reddened eyes. "... I might as well hope you wouldn't know the truth."
Tsubaki bit her lower lip. She understood why did he say such a thing.
Her dear husband didn't want her to be mentally tortured by these long-dragging events. He was right. She was actually tired of them but her stubborn self was still persistent in uncovering the truth.
"Darling."
Ren quietly looked at her. The clarity in her eyes had slowly returned. He waited patiently for her to speak.
Under his promising gaze, she continued.
"I'll meet Kanako tomorrow and if it's really true, I will go and meet Mrs. Souma. And... if Akashi has really found someone who could help us, I want to meet them too. Let's finish everything before our wedding, alright?"
His worry slowly dissipated when he saw the unwavering gaze of hers.
She was human as well as him. They were strong and weak at the same time. At times, their willfulness would overpower their fear but some times, red alarms would overwhelm their determination, crushing them into pieces.
"Yes," He nodded. "Let's finish everything and have a beautiful wedding."
Tsubaki smiled softly.
It was right.
She wouldn't have to worry over everything with him by her side.