"You sure it's alright to leave him be?"
Reika asked quietly, concern threading her voice. Beside her, Shira sat with a frown, her expression turning over scenario after scenario in silence.
"…As of now, there's nothing we can do, Reika-sama… giving him space is the least intrusive option."
"Yea, yea, a man had to have his alone time. It's not cool to bawl in front of ladies, heh." Kouga chimed in from the driver's seat, grinning as usual.
Neither Shira nor Reika reacted.
"…Is it really because of me?" Reika murmured. "I still can't believe Tetsuo-san was killed just because I ate at his place."
"I don't think it's that shallow," Shira said. "There must be a deeper reason for this..."
"If this was harassment, it's gone way past a prank!"
"Calm yourself, Reika-sama."
Reika drew a sharp breath. "You still haven't figured out who planted the drugs on Renji, have you?"
"…For now, at least I identified the type of cocaine on him."
"…Whose was it?" Reika ground her teeth, fist balling above the armrest.
Shira was about to elaborate—then caught herself. The one driving them is not Renji as usual, but Kouga, his smug grin lingered in the rearview mirror, eyes flicking toward the back seat.
No… I have to limit who's who…
Then she leaned closer to Reika's ear.
"… I'll tell you the rest of my finding later on in private."
Reika nodded once and closed her eyes.
"Oi, oi—secrets now?" Kouga sighed dramatically. "C'mon, ladies. Let me in on the spicy stuff. I've been on overtime for two days straight, y'know!"
"Well, thanks," Shira replied flatly.
The moment they arrived at the KHX building, Reika and Shira stepped out before Kouga could even open their doors. By the time he exited his car, Reika was already standing in front of him.
"Here's for your assistance."
She pulled out a thick fold of yen and handed it to him. Kouga raised an eyebrow with unimpressed look.
"Aww. That's it? What about the dinner you promised?"
"… You made that promise on your own. Don't overstep my patience, Seiryuu-san."
"…Fine, fine." He pocketed the money with a shrug. "G'night, ladies! My line always open for your calls."
He gave out a wink, then he was gone, car disappearing into the road.
"…I hate owing that man favors," Reika muttered.
"…I get you…" Shira too, equally drained, let out a sigh.
--------
After they walked inside the building, and entered Reika's private office—
"Reika-sama, as I mentioned briefly on the call—the deal with Hisoka is secured, since they add more cargo to ship, we settled at almost thrice from the initial deal. I'll bring the paperwork later."
"…That's good," Reika said, sinking into the couch. "That buys us two months. So—what did you really want to tell me?"
"From this short trip, I concluded that we're being closely watched."
"…Aren't we always? Nevermind… Go on…"
"I noticed Someone tailing us, especially after you bailed Renji during that drug incident… Different car from time to time, trying to be subtle, but I'm positive that it's same person each time from the way they following us."
"… Well, I'm not surprised… being tailed is not new thing for us… is it Genzou's?"
"Maybe. Maybe not." Shira paused. "Let's confirm something first. Our deal with Yamagami was clean, yes?"
"…Yes… we can trust her… she won't be doing that, nor she had any reason to begin with…"
"Then we can cross out Yamagami-san—and the police." Shira frowned. "But I can't rule out Genzou or an insider… they'd know better than to tail us this openly."
"…So a third force," Reika murmured, deep in thought. "A private contractor?"
"Most likely. I've gathered enough data. Next time, I'll confront our pursuer directly."
"…Do you think they're connected to Tetsuo's murder?"
"I can't say for certain… Logically, Tetsuo and Renji have no value worth this level of effort. Planting drugs. Staging a murder. There's no apparent benefit in it… But…" Shira paused.
"But what…?"
"…If they're a means to reach you personally," Shira said carefully, "then it makes sense."
"…Someone testing me… Or setting up for something bigger."
"…So… any name in your mind? Reika-sama…?"
"… My suspicion still locked on Genzou, and Hino… and maybe Boardman Tsuda and Murakami… or by now… for all that matter… Kitamura-san had a reason to be on the list too…"
"So basically, everyone on the board that took damage from your policy…"
"Tch. Can we narrow it down?"
"Not yet. Which is why direct confrontation is the next step."
Reika buried her face in her hands, straining her voice in exasperated frustration. "…So no matter how I look at it… Tetsuo-san died because of me."
"…To be blunt, it's not totally unrelated to you, Rita…"
Reika's breath trembled.
"Hey, Shira…What should I say to Renji…?" Then she remembered something important she mentioned in the car. "Wait…The cocaine planted on him. You said you identified it."
"Yes, from our lab… The cocaine found on him isn't street product. The purity is too high… and there are solvent traces no syndicate in Japan use… at least… nothing we've ever seized or catalogued."
"…Another dead end…? If it came from outside the country... tracing it further would be a wild goose chase…"
"Exactly." Shira sigh as conclusion.
"We've got enemies inside, and now overseas…? Is this because of my father? Or… my mother?"
"The possibility isn't zero," Shira said carefully. "Akihiko-sama left many enemies behind. And Blanca-sama's reign created just as many as she made allies." Silence stretched, Shira repeats her question.
"…Rita… still no names in your head…?"
"…A lot…" Reika said at last. "Too many."
The clock on the wall ticking like a countdown, swallowing both of them in sea of uncertainty.
Then—Reika said, her voice lowered, almost giving up.
"… Shira… Should we… cancel the banquet?"
"What…? You're considering retreat?"
"I'm considering reality," Reika snapped quietly. "If something happens during the banquet—"
"No, don't." Shira cuts her with no room of discussion. "Cancelling it guarantees something worse."
Reika looked up, sarcastic sigh escapes her lips. "Worse than now…?"
"If you withdraw now… the boardmen that already in doubt will use that against you. Murakami and Tsuda will harden. Kitamura will drift further into neutrality and begin hedging his routes elsewhere."
Reika's expression contorted, unable to deny the foreseeable fact "…I know… I know, Shira…".
"Your father never cancelled appearances," Shira added quietly. "Even when three prefectures were in open conflict."
"…Please don't bring my father into this…" Reika's tone immediately snapped in withheld frustration.
"Your mother would do her best to control the variables, not retreat…" Shira finished her words gently, and took a step closer to Reika.
And Reika looked away.
"Rita… Hold the banquet."
Reika's slowly relaxed her clenched fists. "Under these conditions?"
"Yes." Shira took another step closer. "Even more, expand the guest list."
"…Expand…?"
"As of now, internal gathering alone will turn this into a closed power display. That invites no room for improvement." Shira folded her hands neatly. "Let's widen the frame."
"…You mean we'll be inviting business partners as well? Like how it was…?"
"Yes, instead under Kokuren's banner, use KHX. With all the client present, you'll have more space to 'move' around."
"…Even so, it's already too late, next week is—"
"Contact them now, hand the invitation personally, I'll help you. Trust in KHX reputation, they will come."
"…Fine…"
"And Rita… Invite Yamagami-san as well."
Reika's gaze sharpened. "Huh…? You want the police in the room?"
"It'll be useful for perception of stability in the room. You planned to approach Kitamura-san, no?"
"Isn't that just going to make him wary of me? He's been avoiding all my attempt to meet."
"Heh… you know, Rita… that's classic Kitamura-san for you… he doesn't like picking side… So, make it clear that it's inconvenient for him to remain neutral."
"… I see…" Reika rubbing her temple with her palm, exhaustion is palpable on her face.
"Let them see you still standing beside law enforcement and industry leaders. It will somewhat hold the aggression."
"Okay, fine... I understand Shira… Our business partner is one thing, but I don't think Yamagami-san would accept such invitation on short notices—" Reika leaned back slightly.
"She will." Shira's tone did not waver. "Her public office benefits from appearing proactive with private enterprise."
"…Very well." Reika stood up from her seat, and straightened her posture. "We proceed."
Shira gave a small nod. "That's good enough."
"Seriously… I took this whole drug incident too lightly… And… about Renji…" Reika sigh, as she let the name linger in question.
"Want me to watch over him for a while?"
"…Yes…." Reika straightened. "And while you're at it, tomorrow—prepare an empty room in our mansion. I'll talk to him personally about the rest."
"…Understood."
Shira smiled—just slightly.
--------
Renji walked back from the bathroom and picked up his phone from the table. The same short message stared back at him.
'Reika Hiraga: Pick up the phone. I need to talk.'
"Tch…"
He dropped onto the sofa, phone still in hand.
I'll think about what to say later…
His eyes lingered to the date today at the top of the screen.
Tue, 31 December, 2024.
It had been five days since he returned from the hospital. And been same five days too, locked inside this room.
Just as he let his body sink into the sofa again, ready to continue his self-imposed isolation—
*Knock. Knock.*
Renji shoulder jolted in surprise. He stares at the door, the sound came again, steady, deliberate.
…Who the hell? Rent's paid, Landlord-kun… Fuck off…
"…Just don't forget to leave when you're bored…" he muttered, slouching deeper into the cushions as he began doom-scrolling mindlessly.
*Knock. Knock.*
More than 10 minutes passed.
*Knock. Knock.*
Then again and again.
"Holy hell… what kind of stubborn salesman is this!?"
With a groan, Renji stood and moved toward the door, careful to keep his steps light.
Cheap apartment doesn't even have a privilege of a peephole… dang it.
He leaned in, pressing his ear against the thick—but hollow—door, trying to catch anything useful.
*Knock. Knock.*
Right next to his ear.
—Damnit!
He recoiled, rubbing the side of his head, contemplating the possibilities and options.
If they're this persistent… it could be one of the two… if not Reika… it's Shira… no… it has to be Shira …
A brief silence. Then—
*Knock. Knock.*
Tch… if it's Shira-sama… I had to open this... or else... there's no telling what she'd do…
He hesitantly reached for the doorknob, then unlocked it. Just when the door barely opened—
*Clack.*
The sharp tip of an expensive-looking stiletto jammed into the gap, to not let Renji close it again.
"Renji. Open the door."
The voice that come through was not the cold and curt that he expected to hear, but was soft, mature, smooth, firm, all at once. The kind that didn't ask for attention but held it anyway.
"…Reika…sama…?"
He peeked through the gap. Her expression was composed—but unmistakably displeased.
And suddenly, hiding felt impossible.
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