Chapter 128 - Has a tendency to cheat death

Takeshi stands near the window, thinking about Iori. She hasn't come to see him once after he told her that there was no reason to stay as friends. He knows that his confession of love was prem.a.t.u.r.e. He shouldn't have acted impulsively and kissed her that day. He couldn't control himself when she announced those words. For years, he saw her taking glances at his brothers. When his brother got married, she made such a commotion at the pub. 

He was planning to make her fall for him after some time. The kiss ruined the chances. Then, he confessed like a fool. Was he desperate? Waiting for too long broke away his ability to keep patience. He didn't think that she would ever laugh at him for telling her that he loved her.

That's what she thinks about him. She won't see him as a man. He falls short to his brother. He's not romantic or idealistic. He has known her for years. It is impossible for her to fall in love with him at first sight. She was pretty much like an imprinted duckling toward his elder brother.

His brother isn't having a good time with his sister-in-law either. Sister-in-law and his brother have one thing in common. Both are stubborn. They won't trust each other or speak honestly. Is that why he said those words to Iori? He didn't want her to misunderstand his feelings.

His father also faced problems when he sought his mother. Her married status didn't bother his father. Having a scandal didn't bother his father. He's sure that his father knew what kind of person his mother was. Umezaki Rie had to pay for their sins. Yet, his father chose to be with his mother. 

He can't hate his parents. They loved him when they were alive. That's why it was nearly impossible to believe when the scandal was dug up two years ago. 

Takeshi wonders if he can ever become that type of man. He can't become like his brother either. He can never force Iori to love him back or imprison her.

He's not a saint either. He can't stay friends with someone who has laughed at him when he told her that he loved her. Forgiving is possible. Forgetting is not. 

In the corner of his eyes, he sees a dark shadow in the lawn. He squints his eyes. It's dark, but it looks like two shadows are fighting.

"What's going on?" 

***

"Hm!" The needle glitters between her fingers. She's grumpy. Did it have to be tonight? It's a mess. 

"Are you really going to fight me?" The man looks at her with a lazy smile.

"I do not mix personal and professional life." She yawns and pats her mouth. "How long are you just going to stand there?"

"Say, is that woman some sort of important person?" The man looks at the closed door. "You wouldn't accept any job."

"The pay is good and she's an important person to important people." She tells him with a sleepy voice, "Why did you bring so many men with you if she wasn't an important assignment to take care of?"

"Someone paid a hefty amount to take care of her tonight." He takes one step in her direction. She doesn't move. "Tsumi, we are friends. Do we need to fight? Just come back to us."

Tsuchiya Tsumi rolls her eyes. "Leave with your people. Then, we don't need to fight."

Going back to them? Not happening.

"Heartless." He touches his c.h.e.s.t, looking hurt. "You know that I can't leave."

"No choice then." 

A drone quietly flies into the corridor through the open window, attracting their attention. The man turns his head back and sees the palm-sized drone. In less than a minute, there are more than 10 drones hovering inside the mansion.

***

In the news, Kamiyama Mansion is shown being engulfed in flames.

Morikawa says quietly, "Everyone except Kamiyama Takeshi is dead."

"I don't believe it." Chisa frowns. She is tied to the chair, handcuffed. "She has a tendency to cheat death."

Kamiyama Kiyohira ran into the fire to save his family. It's unknown whether he's still alive. It's same for Umezaki Rie. Grandmother Kamiyama is announced dead. Kamiyama Takeshi is found wounded and unconscious in the garden. 

"She's dead. If they were faking her death as they did before, she would be announced dead by now."

Morikawa's words sound logical. Maybe both of them died. There's no reason for Kiyohira to fake his death.

Chisa smiles.

In the end, she's the winner.

"I want to see her dead body," She tells him with a demanding voice. She wants to stomp Rie's corpse before she meets her death.

Morikawa points the gun at her. "I don't have that much time, Hashimoto San. Either you tell me now or I send you to a place where they can break people like you every second. You used humans for amus.e.m.e.nts all your life. You wouldn't want to be one, would you? Just like you, I don't fear death. I have something that I want to protect."

He can't delay anymore. If they find out about the evidence before he can destroy it, his death is sealed. In that case, it would be better if he hands her over and surrenders himself to them. Otherwise, his family will suffer too. They would probably leave his family alone in that case. 

The threat has an effect on her. Though she's not afraid of pain and torture, she's afraid of humiliation. She can guess Morikawa's reasons for not handing her over to such places. She's afraid of those things happening to her. The proud and beautiful Hashimoto Chisa would not be reduced to such a state.

"I will tell you."

Death is better than going to those places. She doesn't want to rot in prison either.