Tōma Yōko.
Hara Kei knew her name well—Wasa's mother, a world-class pianist, one of the leading figures in Sakurajima's music scene.
Rumor had it that each of her performances could earn her gold equivalent to her own body weight…
Hara Kei cast a sidelong glance at this national treasure of Sakurajima, thinking wryly, That… actually doesn't seem that much.
The car moved smoothly. First it joined the national road, then, after nearly half an hour of steady driving, it merged onto the highway.
"Aren't you scared?" Yōko, who had been quiet all this time, spoke suddenly. "You trusted my identity based on a single photo and got into my car without a shred of caution." A sly smile tugged at her lips. "Haven't your parents ever told you that a handsome boy like you needs to be careful out in the world?"
"First of all, I don't think a kidnapper would drive such an expensive car," Hara Kei said, gesturing to the car's interior. Its exterior alone screamed high value, but the interior revealed the owner's luxury without restraint.
"Second, I am a St. Eden Academy student, and I got in under the school's gate surveillance. Your car is also against school regulations; I'm sure the student council president already has photos and the license plate on her desk," Hara Kei continued, knowing the current student council president well enough. That woman loved finable offenses. "If I suddenly disappeared, it wouldn't just be campus security coming after me—there'd be police in uniform too."
At St. Eden, students were either wealthy or influential, so their safety was taken extremely seriously.
Thanks to the school's precautions and professional campus security, there hadn't been a single kidnapping or ransom incident for a long time—let alone a more extreme "hostage elimination."
"Of course, the most important thing is that I've seen your photo. I know for sure that you are Wasa's mother."
That, indeed, was the real reason Hara Kei wasn't panicking.
"Hmph." Yōko pouted slightly, feigning boredom. "Seeing through everything too clearly… you'll miss out on a lot of fun, you know."
"Better than being left in the dark with only half the story," Hara Kei replied, peering out the window to gauge the car's direction. "Where are we headed?"
"Setagaya. Almost there." Yōko steered expertly, not hiding her destination. "I have a villa there. That's today's destination."
The car left the metropolitan expressway and transitioned from a main road to a smaller street. A few minutes later, it stopped in front of an elegantly designed villa.
Setagaya was a well-known affluent area of Tokyo. Most residents were entrepreneurs, artists, or cultural elites. Anyone able to afford property here was undoubtedly a so-called "success."
Yōko pressed a button on her remote, opening the garage door, and parked the car inside.
"This was bought especially for Wasa," she said casually, without an ounce of bragging. "It's a bit far from school, but the area is quiet and the environment is nice, so I bought it."
"I'm rarely home myself, due to constant travel. Aside from a maid who comes on schedule to clean and cook, and a driver who takes her to and from school, it's basically just Wasa living here."
Yōko slipped her index finger into the electronic lock at the front door. After a soft beep, the door automatically opened, and she stepped inside without hesitation.
Hara Kei followed without the slightest hesitation.
He had already prepared himself mentally for the luxury and spatial extravagance of the villa, so he wasn't particularly surprised.
Yōko didn't flaunt any of it like a nouveau riche, either. She led him through the hall and down a staircase to the basement.
As soon as they stepped onto the basement floor, lights flickered on as if sensing their presence, revealing the space's true layout.
Hara Kei felt as if he hadn't entered a basement at all, but a bar.
There were stools lined up in front of a bar, spacious areas with six-legged round glass tables, and a luxurious chandelier casting a soft glow from the high ceiling.
At the far end, a raised stage had been deliberately built.
A drum set and grand piano stood on the stage, while various electric guitars and basses hung on the walls.
"Not bad, right?" Yōko asked, nodding in satisfaction when Hara Kei finally showed a look of shock. "Finally showing a bit of the kid inside—this is more like it."
She walked up to the bar, expertly pulling out various bartending tools. Her hands, agile from years at the piano, moved with the same grace when mixing drinks. In no time, a fizzy beverage appeared in front of Hara Kei, releasing a light fruity aroma.
"No alcohol." She showed him the ingredients. "I haven't sunk to giving minors a drink. This is just a small token of thanks."
"…Then you shouldn't have just invited me."
Yōko smiled, ignoring his comment, and took out a bottle of amber-colored liquor—its label unfamiliar to Hara Kei—and poured it into another wine glass.
"You mean the other girl? Yukinoshita Yukino, right?" She sipped the drink before continuing. "Of course I appreciate her intentions, but the leading role here is you, isn't it?"
"Besides, in our conversation, your name, 'Hara Kei,' came up far more often than 'Yukinoshita Yukino,'" Yōko said with a knowing tone. "It seems my daughter has taken an interest in a boy. Naturally, as her mother, I'm curious."
"So… you're here to judge him?"
"Absolutely not." Yōko's smile turned a little wry. "Not to brag, but my taste in men is astonishingly bad. Every relationship I've had has ended in disaster. If she relied on me, she'd be better off consulting some online fortune-telling site—it might at least sound convincing."
"I just want to hear your piano," Yōko said, gesturing to the black grand. "Wasa praised you highly, said you're the most talented pianist she's ever seen. She's never complimented anyone like this—her admiration even surpasses mine. Naturally, I'm curious."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, a trace of childlike competitiveness and anticipation shining through.
"So, how about it? The piano's over there. Want to try it out?"