'I CAN'T SAVE HINA!'
That's the harsh reality I had to face right now. But maybe things could change if I had a conversation with her mother. Ms. Kyouko Satori! A single mother, and a business tycoon.
I'm sure it would be something she wouldn't want me to not lay my hands upon, not of the fact that I'm not welcomed in this matter, but maybe staying away would keep me safe. In a way, she's protecting me, while putting her daughter's life in jeopardy, which would also involve her own life.
I may lack taming my own emotions, but that doesn't mean I'm not emphatic. I could understand, or maybe, you could say, had a gist of what was going to unfold. Though I'm not on good terms with my mother, I do observe her work occasionally. And there's something I noticed. She lately only has a set of high-profile clients on her list. But that's not an interesting fact.
The most interesting fact is that each one of the clients had a price on their head. In the simplest of terms, they were targeted. I did dig deeper, because I was bored, but also because something got me thinking.
My mother was a smart and guileful woman, and someone who you mustn't mess up with. Her intuition was off the charts, as she had a knack for these cases. Normally, if she knew that Kyouko-san was a bad case, then she would have advised me to stay away from both of them.
Money was never an issue in my mom's handling of cases. So she wouldn't have neglected our safety and put us in jeopardy for a bit of cash. And yet, she was so calm. I memorized the main names of her clients, and took a snap, just in case I might miss out on some minor details. As I had started digging deeper and deeper, I was bewildered by the history of her clients. The web was a huge place of data. You can never go unhidden. After hours of research, the conclusion I was able to draw upon, with evidence is, all of the clients on her list, spelled danger.
If that's the case, then that meant that Kyouko-san and Hina were also in danger, and I witnessed it first hand. Ryousuke mentioned that he was her far-off cousin. But would a cousin go so far for someone whom he barely spoke with? And that's when it had hit me.
A POWER BATTLE!
Hina was the key to a complicated puzzle. That means putting her out of the equation would result in someone being happy. It meant that person would have a lot to gain by her death. Look at it the other way, and it meant that the person in question had a lot to lose, if Hina stayed alive. If my hunch is right, then Hina's origin might come back to bite her soon. With that out of the equation, I think it's time that I must prepare about what actions must I resort to.
Why was I going this far? What is it for me to gain?
Hmmm...I'd have to be honest to myself and tell, that I just wanted them around. Simple as that. They're a good company to hang out with. And there's the promise I made to her. If possible, I wouldn't want to put her through despair, because of a lie. That promise was a lie, to keep her alive.
It's a sin that I had to commit, and guilt that I will bear.
RESENTMENT?
Is that what this is? Do I even know what that feels like? At this point, it's half-assed excuses. If I was to protect her, I'd be super close to her, or just stay far away from her, so that I could always monitor the situation, and act accordingly. And yet, I wasn't.
And here I am now. Less than 9 hours after the incident, eating dark chocolate and reminiscing about the past. I've had enough of it. Clearly, it's time for me to step up. If Kyouko-san thinks I'm not that worthy of getting to know that information, or if it's too risky that it'll put her attorney's personal life in jeopardy, she can stop worrying about it.
Besides, I'm not one to seek vengeance but, I was jumped on by 2 assassins in the washroom and one former taekwondo grandmaster. Clearly, I owe them the gratitude for targeting my life and humiliating me by trying to finish me off in such a miserable way.
That being said, that wouldn't be the last of those attempts. I could already sense that I'm being targeted even now. As we speak, I'm sure there's a guy keeping watch over this house. But that's all there is.
'Kyouko-san! It's time for our long-overdue meeting!'
I decided to meet Kyouko-san today. A worthy excuse of skipping school on Mondays! My mother got wind of this and handed out to me some important documents.
"Take it to Satori-san!"
"Alright, anything else?"
"Watch out, you have a high chance of not making it back in one piece!"
"Will do!"
I made sure to take the rare advice my mother had given me. It was very kind of her to acknowledge my death, so easily. And before I realized it, there I was...
'SATORI GROUP!'
"Hello sir, how can I...Naofumi-kun?!"
"Ah, Asana-san! Good morning!"
"What brings you here?"
"Well, I had some business, plus I had to hand over some documents for Satori-san!"
"Oh, very well then. Wait in the lobby for 10 minutes, and I'll get an update! That's when I signal you to go!"
"Alright, thanks for the help"
I waited for a while before Asana- san called out for me.
Asana-san was a kind and friendly woman. She was the personal manager and caretaker of Kyouko-san! And since I'm a regular to this place, for reasons trivial and unnecessary, it's a place I can hang out anytime without any necessary questions. Asana-san, Hina, and I often spent time together. Be it for the simplest stuff like being our tutor during middle school, to almost making me her apprentice and teaching me some inside stuff the business and logistical handling.
With this description, you'd assume she's a close friend to Kyouko-san, and probably someone around her age. But you couldn't be further away from the truth. Asami Haruhashi was a 26-year-old woman. Her description, it's pretty hard to tell, because often I would often end up with my mouth drooling. She is my ideal woman. But she's almost 10 years older than me. Nooo! This injustice. And yet, she's single. Please someone take her away before I'm given the hope that I have a chance.
"Well, it's your lucky day!"
Lucky day? Has she finally understood that I have feelings for her? Is this for real?
"Is it?"
"Yeah, Kyouko-chan's schedule is open till the afternoon, which is pretty rare. Hey, tell me, what's your relationship with her?"
Oi, Oi! What's with that mischievous look? Ah, that's right. She doesn't see me as a man, but more like a little delinquent brat. Calm down! What were you even expecting?
"Well, she is my boss. I have to report to her. Isn't it obvious?"
"Hooo...."
Stop, please don't give those teasing looks. I want to savor these feelings, even though it's hard.
"Ok, good luck!"
She waved goodbye and went back to her work.
I opened the door quietly. And to greet me was a woman, who was sitting on her desk, and sipping some green tea.
"What is it...NAO?! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school?!"
"Yeah, about that. I felt like there's something important."
"Something more important than school and Hina...?"
"..."
"Could it be, that you have come to tell that you have feelings for me? Oh, no! It can't be...I'm stealing my daughter's boyfriend. How low have I stooped?"
"Uhm! I'm serious!"
"Fine, be my guest!"
We went around and sat on the sofa at the far end of the room.
"So, what is it that you want to talk about?"
"Kyouko-san..."
I NEED TO KNOW!