Chapter 54 - She is better than others

"Do you like them?"

The field of flowers is stretched as far as she can see. "If it was vegetables, we could eat."

"Usually, girls like flowers." Umezaki Yushiro is amused to hear her answer. "There is a vegetable field behind the farmhouse. But, I like growing flowers more. Which color do you like the most?"

"Rie chan's favorite color is black." Ren jogs to Rie's side. "You don't have black flowers."

"I should grow some black roses," The doctor says thoughtfully.

"You don't have to do it for me." Rie rolls her eyes. "Old man, I would never be interested in you."

The doctor guffaws when he hears her words. "Little one, I thought that the color black is missing from all the colors that are present in this flower field. I already have a woman. Little girls like you are nothing compared to my person."

"You are also nothing compared to my Ren." Rie wraps her arms around Ren. Ren feels being sandwiched between Rie and Dr. Umezaki's arguments. They haven't stopped for a moment since they left the hospital.

The doctor yawns. "It's already late. I am going to sleep. Just find a suitable room by yourself and sleep."

Dr. Umezaki leaves them alone in the field of flowers. The crescent moon is bright in the sky. Ren holds her hands and says, "Rie chan, do you want to take a walk?"

"We will disturb the flowers. They are sleeping right now." Rie smiles brightly. "Let's sit here and watch the moon."

Ren is surprised to hear speak like that. This must be her side that she always kept hidden inside her. They sit on the bench and watch the countless colorful flowers. She puts her head on his shoulder and hums a tune.

Though he shouldn't be happy that things have turned out like this, he is happy at this moment with her. He wishes that this temporary moment would last forever.

"Mr. Kamiyama, please believe me." Fujita Toshi screams when his finger is broken. "I didn't even lay a finger on her that day. She pushed me out of the window in her drugged state."

Kiyohira snaps the second finger. "If she didn't push you, what were you going to do?"

The incident happened a long time ago. Fujita Toshi didn't think that he would be paying for that now. He got a call from the main secretary from the Kamiyama Groups saying that they are interested in his products. He came to the hotel to discuss the deal. If he had known that it was going to turn out like this, he would have never come.

Fujita Toshi shudders with fear when he notices the killing chill in Kiyohira's eyes. "It was Miwako's ploy. She asked me to drug Rie's drink and take to her storage room. I was supposed to sleep with Rie and take pictures of her. But, Rie didn't lose her mind completely. She struggled when I... She didn't do it intentionally. I fell from the window and broke many bones."

He pauses for a moment.

Kiyohira puts his one leg over the other. "Tell me everything."

"I met Rie after joining the middle school. I don't know why she was being bullied, but she was everyone's punching bag. They made her hide drugs in her bags and take blames for the mistakes of other students. I didn't know why she would do it. She didn't come to school every day. When she came, she would not be seen in the class."

The atmosphere feels heavy. The beads of sweats drop on the floor.

"I have seen her following Miwako many times. I heard that she was Miwako's toy. There were pictures of her kneeling and kissing someone's shoes. I am sure that it was Miwako. Everyone knew what was going on, but nobody said a word. I am not the only one to blame."

Kiyohira stands up and walks to the man. "Do you wish to live?"

Fujita Toshi looks up at him. "You can't kill me."

"There is more than one way to kill someone. I can make sure that you live a life worse than death. I can make your business crumble like a pillar of sand. I can make sure that you become homeless and live on the street. I can make sure that your family also pay for your sins." He bends down on his one knee. "You will know what's it's like being bullied."

"Please don't do this. I will find her and beg for her forgiveness." Fujita cries helplessly. "I will do anything that you ask for. I will go back to school and tell them that it was me. I will tell them that she was being bullied. Please don't ruin my life."

Kiyohira doesn't have any intention of letting this man go unpunished, but he needs to find out more. This man isn't the one who broke her. The real person is Miwako. He must find that woman first.

***

"It's strange." Chisa looks at television's screen. "There is no news of Rie yet. Kamiyama family is quiet. She hasn't appeared in the city. Kiyohira is also back. I miss my toy."

She has reared that toy since she was eight. It's her fault for leaving her toy alone. Takeuchi Rie. Nothing in the world compares to her. After several years, her toy has grown into a new challenge. She will take this challenge and take back her toy.

"Chisa, I heard that her father will arrive tonight." Miwako is massaging her shoulders. "He is going to erase Rie's name from the family register."

"Is that so? That's better. If the final tie is broken between her father and her, it will be easier to bring her to our secret playground." Chisa looks at Miwako. "She is better than others."

Miwako's body trembles for a moment. She hides it and grins, "Chisa, don't forget about me after you bring her back."

Chisa laughs. "Miwako, don't compare yourself with Rie. Rie is a toy. She's the best toy that I ever had."