Kyouko says,
"I don't understand what do you mean."
Ren smirks and replies,
"Back then, you were startled when you saw me. People never reacted like that when they see a stranger."
Ren gets closer to Kyouko and continues,
"But you, you were scared as if you knew who I was. I will ask you one last time. Who do you work for?"
Kyouko replies,
"I think there is a misunderstanding here. I was startled because I didn't notice that you were there with them and I hesitated when I approached them."
Ren smirks and grabs his phone out.
"Megami, Kyouko. 24 years old. Graduated from University of Tokyo with dual degree at the age of 20. Became a teacher at the age of 23 on January 14th."
Kyouko says,
"What is that for? How can you get my information?"
Ren chuckles mischievously and replies,
"My apologies, that's not the real one isn't it, Rie Yanagisawa-San?"
Kyouko's finger flinches. Ren says,
"I don't know what are you doing here in the heart of Hasegawa territory. Your information are classified and it's impossible for me to find it other than your name. That only means two things. Either you're working secretly under the prime minister or under his majesty himself. If it's the former, I'm afraid that I can't let you go."
Kyouko sighs and grabs something inside her purse. A Chrysanthemum Flower Crest is on her hand and shows it to Ren. He smiles,
"I understand now. You're here to investigate on Norl-Kun parents deaths."
Kyouko's eyes are glaring at Ren differently than earlier. Her gaze and body language changes as soon as her identity got exposed. Kyouko replies,
"I cannot confirm nor deny to that statement or anything else. Renjiro Hasegawa, the successor of the Hasegawa clan. Our encounter with each other was a coincidence. You know what that means, correct? Because of this, it's putting both of us in a bad spot."
Ren replies,
"Of course. I hope we don't run to each other again in the future."
Ren and Kyouko are passing each other. Then Ren suddenly stops and says,
"You don't have to worry about Norl-Kun. I came here to help him, not the other way."
Kyouko stops and replies,
"To think the successor of Hasegawa clan can do something like that and says such things after what you did in the past makes me feel uncomfortable."
Ren smiles and says,
"It surprised me that you knew about that. It seems that no one can keep a secret from his Majesty's people, huh?"
Kyouko smiles and replies,
"We are beyond what you thought of us, successor of Hasegawa clan."
Ren asks,
"Is that a warning?"
Kyouko replies,
"You can interpret it as whatever you like."
Ren chuckled and then both of them left and on their own way.
Ren grabs his phone and call someone,
"Where's Kuro? Is he at the doctor place?"
"I see. I'll be there soon."
Ren put his phone in his pocket and went to see Kuro.
When he arrived. He went inside the Japanese traditional house. It's the biggest house in the area. The inside of the house is totally different from the outside. It's like a hospital but with a traditional theme.
Ren heard Kuro's groan from the entrance and walked towards it. Ren slid the shōji and leaned on the sides. He watched Kuro is getting treatments from the doctor. The bruise and swollen ribs on Kuro's body can be seen from where Ren is standing.
A several minutes of painful treatment finally done. Ren sat next to Kuro.
"So? How and who?"
Kuro explained everything to Ren. Ren could tell that Kuro is really pissed by the way he spoke. His expression made Ren realized that Kuro is planning to do something about it.
Ren stands up and says,
"I know how you feel, I know what you are thinking, and I know what do you want to do."
Ren is glaring at Kuro and continues,
"Remember what father said? We are not the same like the other clans. We are prioritizing things that only benefits the family. If mistakes were happened in the process, that's their own fault. Now, this happened. Something that isn't beneficial for our family. If you're thinking to use the family power to handle your "mistake", then you're not one of us anymore."
Kuro is lying on the bed in silence. Ren continues,
"If you want to fix that "mistake", do it yourself. The three of us were taught to survive on our own. Don't forget that."
Kuro nods. Ren asks,
"Do you understand?"
Kuro replies,
"Yes, Aniki. I understand."
A footsteps is approaching the room and both of them are looking at the door. Aiko comes out from the corner of the door and approaches them. Aiko says,
"I heard that you're injured. I didn't know the details because as soon as I heard you got injured I immediately hung up the phone and came here."
Kuro explained it again to Aiko. Aiko sighed and sat beside Ren.
"Don't make your Nee-San worries like this again. My heart is still pounding so fast."
Kuro replies,
"I'm sorry, Aneue. It was my fault. He took me by surprise."
Aiko pinch Kuro's cheek and says,
"I told you to call me Nee-San. I don't like it when you called me formally. I'm not like Nii-Sama."
Kuro nods and smiles. Aiko asks,
"Then? Are you going to settle this matter with that guy?"
Kuro replies,
"Yes definitely, someday if we run into each other again."
Aiko nods and says,
"Alright, you get some rest. I will go home now. I have so many homework and assignment to do since I took so many absence because of work."
Kuro nods and close his eyes. Aiko get out from the room and Ren follows her. Aiko turns around and surprised. She asks,
"What's wrong, Nii-Sama?"
Ren replies,
"There's something important that I want to tell you."
Aiko says,
"Then we can talk about it at home while I'm doing my homework."
Ren shakes his head and replies,
"It's something that we can't talk about it at home because I don't want anyone to know about it, especially father and his men."
Aiko is looking at Ren and then the surroundings. She nods and says,
"Let's go to the cafe far from here. Should we tell Nee-San to come as well?"
Ren nods.
"Yeah, we also need her car to get there."
Ren grabbed his phone and called Ritsu.
Ritsu came. Aiko and Ren got inside Ritsu's car and went to the cafe Aiko's suggested.
They have arrived at the cafe and went inside. They sat on the furthest and the most covered area inside the cafe. Ritsu seemed exhausted and she leaned on Ren's shoulder. Aiko asks,
"What's the important thing you want to tell us about, Nii-Sama?"
Ren replies,
"His Majesty already put his eyes on Norl-Kun. One of the teachers from his school is his Majesty's people. We ran into each other on accident this evening."
Ritsu who was tired and about to fell asleep immediately lifted her head and turned her head towards Ren. Aiko looked at Ritsu and Ren back and forth. Aiko asks,
"Then what happened next?"
Ren replies,
"Nothing else. She warned us to stay away from them and I personally agreed with her. We don't want to make a move towards his Majesty."
Ritsu says,
"If his Majesty is aware with what happened to Norl-Kun parents, that also means his Majesty and his men knows the truth. They are after the same thing as ours."
Aiko asks,
"What is going to happen if Aze-Kun choose to work with them than with us?"
Ritsu replies,
"That won't happen, not in the slightest."
Aiko tilts her head and asks,
"Why is that, Nee-San?"
Ritsu replies,
"Do you think that his Majesty would trouble himself and his men to help a foreigner? They only need him to get some information and after they got what the wanted, they will turn a blind eye when something happens to him. Like what happened to his parents."
Aiko is worried and is looking at Ren. Ren sighs and says,
"It is what it is. That's how it works. We are the same, but at least we offered him some protection."
Aiko asks,
"Then what? After Nii-Sama got what you wanted, you're going to abandon him and let the Sakurai clan take their revenge towards him?"
Ren replies,
"We don't have the responsibility of his life. He's smart and know that."
Aiko hit the table with her palm so hard and stands up. She grits her teeth and says,
"I see... I was wrong to think of Nii-Sama so highly. I'm done here."
Erii left hurriedly. Ritsu sighed.
"Can you please stop acting like that? You despise heartless people and yet you're acting like one."
Ren replies,
"I just wanted to see her reaction. I have seen Kuro's and it made me anxious."
Ritsu shakes her head and says,
"Now you know. You should apologize to her as soon as you get home. Now let me comfort her and I will drive her home."
Ritsu stood up and left to comfort Aiko. Ren closed his eyes and massaged his eyes. He looked at his phone and glared at something that made him feel disgusted.