199 Remember the blind date

despite trying out different tactics, iori hasn't been able to get much information out of ren. still, she hasn't given up. she must be patient. the tongue has no bone. thus, it can often slip out the words that the mind tries its best to keep inside.

when they arrive at the kamiyama villa, the guard lets them inside without any question. ren goes straight to the kitchen. he's tired of the girl's questions. her efforts to make him speak about nina and the assassins didn't go unnoticed. if she hasn't been takeshi's friend, he would have lost his temper countless times. 

he looks at his clothes. he has to change before he destroys the sanctity of the holy kitchen. he needs to eat a lot to not feel sad anymore. perhaps, he will continue to feel sad even after eating. he wants to watch anime or read manga, but he ends up thinking about nina. he has to prepare for her funeral.

he wants her soul to find peace. he has to visit the station after he cleans up. he will change his witness statement, but nothing can stop him from going to nina. that girl deserves it. she has him. 

downstairs, iori is pacing around the room. her cousin keeps calling her. she bites her nails. what should she do? why is takeshi not here yet? she should talk to her cousin once.

[where are you?]

a cold sweat breaks down on her skin. she licks her lips. "elder sister, i will make it up to you."

[are you going to kill yourself?]

"elder sister, how could you say that?" iori shouts at the phone. "i am your cousin. you used to take care of me when i was young."

[perhaps, that's why you became daring enough to steal a witness with my car from the crime scene. kinoshita iori, how are you…]

the door is pushed open. iori turns around, expecting to see takeshi.

"...planning to make it up to me?" yamashina chiyo cocks her head. the phone is pressed against her ear. "you are not smart, iori. you should have turned off your phone."

two dozen officers follow behind her. they start looking around for ren right away.

iori turns pale. she's dead. nobody can save her now. her cousin must have prepared a gravestone with her name. "i can explain."

"i don't want to hear your explanation." yamashina chiyo smiles at her cousin. "where is he?"

"elder sister, he's a witness. he's not a criminal. i brought him here because he wanted to come here." iori looks at her with teary eyes. "i swear!"

"why didn't you tell that to me at once?" yamashina chiyo doesn't believe her cousin at all. "why did you have to steal my car? why did you abandon that car in the middle of the road? do you know how your actions sound like?"

"yes, but…" where's takeshi? iori feels like crying. this is the end. "please save me. i will do anything."

"you will go to that date in my place," yamashina chiyo tells her with a smile.

"ugh!" iori makes a face. "i don't like going on blind dates."

"i don't like going on any date." yamashina chiyo looks at ren who is wearing a bathrobe. his hair is still dripping. he's being dragged down by the cops. from the top to the toes, he emits the aura of being an idiot. she yells at the officers, "are you going to interrogate him in that? let him wear some clothes."

one of the officers apologize. ren nods his head at her, thanking her before he hurries back to kiyohira's room. 

"so, whose house is this?" yamashina chiyo asks iori.

"this is my friend's home. he's on his way here." iori wonders why he's not here yet. hasn't it already been an hour? how long will it take for him to reach this place? who will save her now? she didn't get the interview and she couldn't leave the city at the right time either. she has to go on a blind date set up by her mother now.

"is it haru?" her little cousin only has two friends. "or is it that devil takeshi who made your life hell during school time?"

"i didn't know that i made her life hell." takeshi's clear voice rings throughout the room. "she was the one who used to chase me around all the time."

"i did not do that," iori yells at him. then, she blinks her eyes. "you are here!"

he has changed. he saunters inside with a lazy smile on his lips and a teasing light in his eyes. his dark hair is combed into a different style, making him look more mature. he is leaner, seemingly taller. she rubs her eyes. what is she seeing? he was always handsome. but, can someone become more handsome after four years? what is this sorcery? she's still the same and he's already a swan. 

"sorry, i am a little late." takeshi leans closer to her. she freezes when he wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her into a small hug. his musky scent infiltrates her nose. countless butterflies dance around in her belly and her heart threatens to jump out of her chest. he lets her go right away. "you look pretty, iori."

what's wrong with him? is he teasing her again? 

yamashina chiyo looks at takeshi who is shamelessly flirting with her little cousin right in front of her. iori is quite popular. 

"remember the blind date." she reminds iori, but her words are directed toward takeshi.

"i will go!" iori looks like she will cry. she is feeling too much. this man is teasing her when he has already moved on from her. "you don't have to worry about that anymore."

"what blind date?" takeshi asks iori with a casual voice.

"it's my mother. she wants me to meet a guy." iori exhales with dead eyes. "i would rather die than go on a blind date, but this is life. i will just go and pretend to be interested. after it's over, i will take the train to os city."

the cops watch them talk and says nothing. ren climbs down the stairs.  "takeshi, you are here."

"are you okay?" takeshi stares at ren. the cops are already here. so, it depends on ren now. 

"i have been better." ren gives him a knowing look. he turns to yamashina chiyo. "i am ready."

yamashina chiyo gives him a glance. his hair is still a mess. "follow me."

she takes three steps towards the door before she stops and points at iori. "you too."

iori pouts and starts walking behind yamashina chiyo and ren. without saying a word, takeshi goes after them.