Mrs. Souma brought Tsubaki to the teahouse where they attended a charity auction before. Since the owner was someone Mrs. Souma knew well, she gave them the best private room. While Mrs. Souma was talking to the lady owner outside of the room, Tsubaki took the opportunity to call Ren.
The call was picked up in only one ring.
"Tsubaki!" Her husband's urgent voice came from the end of the line, "Are you okay? Did that man do something to you?"
Although Mrs. Souma had relayed to Matsuzaki that Tsubaki was retrieved safely, Ren couldn't put his heart at ease before he got to hear his wife's voice. The meeting had just ended when Tsubaki's call timely arrived.
"Darling," Tsubaki raised up the corners of her lips, "I am alright. Thanks to you calling Aunt Shiori, she came to get me out."
"Did that bastard really not hurt you?" Ren cursed under his breath. The grip on the phone next to his ear was tightened.
"He just told me everything I need to know," Tsubaki let out a weak chuckle, "I just didn't expect that... Mr. Souma was the one who holds the key to everything."
From the matter of Hinata almost getting kidnapped, the plan to abduct Tsubaki by luring her useless uncle and the village head, Mr. Souma smoothly confessed to everything.
It was just... His hatred toward her late mother was something Tsubaki couldn't understand.
"What did he tell you?"
Ren hated that he couldn't be there for his wife. If only he could materialize right in front of her at the moment they spoke.
Tsubaki wanted to reply, but, when she saw Mrs. Souma entered the private room, she changed her mind. She calmly said to her husband, "Could I tell you later? I have something to talk to Aunt Shiori."
"...Okay," Ren reluctantly agreed, "Sweetheart, I've finished the important things here. The rest of it could be transferred to Matsuzaki. I'll come home right now."
"Did you really have finished them or is that just your excuse?"
Tsubaki didn't want him to push his responsibilities behind just for her. She had heard how busy he would be in this short three-day business trip. Since she had returned unscathed, there was no need for him to be in a hurry to come home.
Although the truth was, Tsubaki really wanted him to be here at this exact moment.
"..."
Ren didn't say anything as a response which Tsubaki tacitly understood that it was just his excuse. She heaved a soft sigh.
"Finish your work first," Tsubaki gently persuaded him, "If you have really done everything that's important, it's alright but, if you wanted to give it to Matsuzaki while you're actually still needed there, I hope you won't do it."
"Sweetheart, don't you want me home?" Ren lowered his tone. He sounded aggrieved as if he was being wronged by his wife.
Tsubaki burst into laughter. She could perfectly imagine that his appearance right now would be like a puppy wanting to get attention from its owner.
"Don't be silly," Tsubaki said in between her chuckles, "How could I not want you here? Alright, that's enough, darling. We'll meet once you have done your job, en? I'm already safe now."
"...Alright. If that's what my wife says," Whether he liked it or not, the lady of the house had spoken. How could he still insist on it?
Tsubaki chuckled again. Before she ended the call, she reminded him, "Don't work too hard just because you want to come home as soon as possible. I'll keep a check on you through Matsuzaki. If I knew that you didn't take enough rest and continued working, be prepared to accept the consequences once you're home. Is that clear, darling?"
"I'll gladly accept any punishment coming from my wife," Ren brazenly declared.
Tsubaki's face instantly flushed red. She awkwardly glanced at Mrs. Souma who had been staring at her with a smile. Even though the older lady couldn't hear what Ren had said, Tsubaki still felt bashful.
"Ah, don't be silly," Tsubaki retorted, "Alright. I'll hang up now. I'll call later. Bye!"
Before Ren could say anything, Tsubaki had hung up.
Hundreds of miles away from the teahouse, a certain someone was staring at the phone with a dejected face.
Aye, his wife was really heartless, Ren sighed.
Back to the teahouse.
"Your relationship is as good as ever," Mrs. Souma couldn't help but chuckle when she saw Tsubaki's red face, "President Fuse is worried about you, isn't he?"
"...He wanted to come home now," Tsubaki gave a light nod.
"During a time like this, you really need him by your side," Mrs. Souma gestured for Tsubaki to sit on the couch. She personally brewed a rose tea to Tsubaki after the teahouse waiter brought in the complete tea set, "But, I also understood your concern about his job. A man who leads people like him sometimes has to make a sacrifice."
Tsubaki assented with a hum. Because she understood too well, she comforted herself that it was okay, they could see each other again in three days.
Her husband had sacrificed too much of his work time from the moment he reappeared in her life. Although Ren would hand the office to Takuma sooner or later, he still needed as the head of the company right now.
"The man named Hibiki has smoothed things over at the old house. He has just arrived with your bodyguard Kaede," Mrs. Souma explained, "The old madam doesn't know about the matter that happened to you."
"That's good," Tsubaki breathed in relief, "If not, Grandma would be worried."
Grandma had a weak heart. If she was stimulated because of this event, Tsubaki didn't dare to lift up her head in front of the old lady again because of guilt.
"Have a taste," Mrs. Souma dropped the subject. She put down the teacup and saucer in front of Tsubaki, "This rose tea might help to alleviate the stress you have, because of the matter from earlier."
Tsubaki looked at the dried red rose petals that floated on the surface. The faint rose scent drifted off in the air. The smell of it made her smiled.
"It tastes great," Tsubaki remarked after taking a sip. She put down the saucer on her lap with one hand still holding on to the teacup. Tsubaki raised up her eyes and looked at Mrs. Souma. She added gratefully, "Thank you, Aunt Shiori."
The thanks weren't just for the tea. If not for the appearance of Mrs. Souma, Tsubaki thought she would still be in the room, facing Mr. Souma.
All the things that he had disclosed to her made Tsubaki doubted herself.
"As I've promised, you could ask me anything," Mrs. Souma calmly staring at Tsubaki, "Hisato has made an indecent scene today. I'm sure you have lots to clarify with me."
Tsubaki absentmindedly nodded her head, agreeing with Mrs. Souma's conjecture.
"I was surprised when I knew that Mr. Souma was good friends with my late father. It seemed like... he really despised my mother. He said... If not for my father falling for my mother, he wouldn't be doomed to die early."
Mrs. Souma's expression sank once she heard Tsubaki's heartwrenching words. The fingers that held on to the teacup shivered slightly. Her eyes lowered to the remaining tea in her cup. Her downhearted gaze was reflected on the clear brown surface.
"...It's true that Hisato had been blaming Masami because of Mr. Saeki's death. He was closer to your father rather than his own brother."
Tsubaki pursed her lips into a straight line. She didn't say anything once Mrs. Souma started talking. She intently listened to the older lady.
Once needed, she would bring up the questions that had been bothering her ever since she heard Mr. Souma's story.
"To me, what Hisato did by blaming Masami was to find someone he could vent his anger and disappointment. He fought hard with my husband when he knew Shinjiro sent Mr. Saeki to the army. They weren't the best of brothers, until now, so their relationship continued to deteriorate at the time of Mr. Saeki's death."
Mrs. Souma clenched and unclenched her hands around the cup. The warmth of the ceramic seeped into her fingers, slowly calming her.
"I thought, Hisato would be fine after coming to terms with your father's death sometime later but... I didn't expect that he came across your sister. He still remembered how Masami looked like. Because of his curiosity, he..."
The next words were clogged in Mrs. Souma's throat. Deep guilt flashed in her eyes as she cautiously looked at Tsubaki.
Seeing that Mrs. Souma couldn't continue, Tsubaki took the initiative to complete her sentence.
Her voice was trembling as it resonated in the private room.
"Did he really plan to kidnap my sister to verify her identity?"
That was what Mr. Souma said. To be exact, his words were...
"To see a young girl with your mother's face, I was excited when I thought I could threaten that woman to come out of her hiding if the young girl was indeed her daughter. At the same time, I wanted to check who's the father. All of my efforts go down the drain but, I didn't expect to encounter you five years ago."
When he said that, mirth and malice danced together in his eyes. His crooked smile sent shivers down Tsubaki's spine.