A few days later, Shira stood inside Reika's private chamber in her mansion, she was busy with reviewing various document scattered on her desk while sipping her tea.
Then she beckoned and hand over a thin document. "Shira, here's the details for next month."
Shira took it and scanned it quickly. Her expression changed slightly when her eyes stopped at the very last letter.
"This isn't the usual…"
"…Yamagami-san's insist on her personal… request…"
Shira's gaze lifted with knowing look.
"Well, I can see where she came from… You sure about this? Reika-sama…?"
"It's not like I have a choice. We need her cooperation. And the framework of this deal… It's something my mother made in the first place."
"So, Illegal gold cargo?" Shira murmured after re-reading the document. "What is this?"
"We have several crates being held at customs under Yamagami's jurisdiction."
"…I wasn't informed."
"Neither was I. Until she showed me the lading bill." Reika's fingers tapped the desk once. "Osaka, this one."
"…Then it must be Genzou's, playing sneaky again, I see." Shira let out tired sigh.
"I suspected as much."
The fatigue in her posture surfaced, subtle but visible. "This amount of gold… you'll need to speak with him directly, though."
"I already did… He admitted the shipment without hesitation. I told him I would attempt to retrieve it on the condition that he remains cooperative on this case."
"He agreed to you?"
"…He didn't refuse…"
"But Reika-sama… Are you certain you can retrieve that much gold from police custody? Even as superintendent …Yamagami-san influence has limits."
"I will make sure she holds her end of bargain, so… let's just focus on giving the best show for her…"
Shira studied her a fraction longer, then finally nod. "…Then… stage and actors as listed…?"
"Hmm, there's a small gang causing trouble on Tsuda's turf. The warehouse location is listed. Keep it contained. First week of next month."
"…Understood. Shall I contact Yamagami-san directly for the rest of the details?"
"I leave it to you."
Shira bowed and about to take her leave.
A sudden question surfaced in Reika's head that made Shira stopped on her tracks.
"Hey… I saw Renji training with the others this morning."
"Oh. I told Jin to train him. If he lives under this roof, at least he's going to follow the discipline."
"I see, still… Jin of all people… would never agree to do that unless you told him to."
"Do you see it as unnecessary, Reika-sama?"
Reika smiled faintly. "Hehe… Not really."
"Very well, then." Once again, Shira bowed, and leave the room.
Alone, Reika sank into the cushion of her chair, her gaze drifted upward to the ceiling, as though searching for answers somewhere in another realm.
…On the matter at hand… can't we… do something about this whole deal…?
Her eyes shifted to a framed photograph nearby, the picture inside torn cleanly away, leaving just the still-image of young Reika, and her mother by her side, with smile remained on each.
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His involuntary morning drills ended the way they always did. Of course, without mercy.
Renji took a seat on one of the bigger stone structures beside the koi pond, every muscle in his body throbbing in uneven rhythm, as if it's not his limbs anymore.
"Damnit, Jin-san… you don't need to hit me that hard…"
His breath came out in white clouds, dissolving into the late winter air. His eyes wander around the ripples of orange and red beneath the surface.
You guys must've been fed well here… wait… aren't you guys cold in this winter…? is your pond installed with fancy water-warmer…?
Renji tried to distract his mind as he's about to roll his trousers, the ache was stubborn. When his fingers slid around to his thigh, he found that fresh swell.
Man, he's in bad mood today…? usually he's scary, but today… damn… chillax with that bamboo sword please…
"This one gonna take weeks to heal… dammit…"
In fact, his body never quite caught up to recovery. Been days now. Every morning, Jin intensified the drills, as if the man himself wanted to punish him instead to train him.
"…Gahh… Anyway… since Reika-sama told me I just need to drive her in the evening today… I think I'll just sleep in my room…"
He pushed his body up, trying to stand up painfully. Then a sudden sound of geta stopped behind him—
"…Been working hard…? Renji… Tohara-kun."
Renji snapped his head to the voice, seeing a man draped in his traditional hakama, and layered haori stood almost beside him, but the man's eyes locked onto the pond, where the colored fish swim lazily beneath the surface turned energetic at the pellets the man throw into the water.
W-whoa, since when he's here…? I didn't hear him…
"Y-yeah, hello… sir…"
He quickly scanned the man from head to toe, looks like in his mid-60, rounded face and belly, his face enjoying the scenery with calming look as he feeding the fish.
…Hmmm, is he one of the housekeepers here…?
"Uhhh… good morning…? Haha…ha…"
Renji stood properly and bowed slightly to him.
"Haha… must've been rough in the nice morning like this… You may sit. I will not strike you for poor posture."
"Actually—" Renji about to shrug him off and go back to his room, "Nevermind…"
I guess it's rude to just walk back like that…
He hesitated, then lowered himself back, sitting on the sides. The man followed, folding down with surprising grace for someone of his age.
For a moment, they simply watched the koi scrambling for their breakfast.
"How is it, being Reika-ojō-sama's driver?"
"…Umm… well… just normal driving, I guess… haha."
"Oh, is that so?"
"…It's… steady work at least…" Renji added carefully.
"Then… are you getting used to live here?"
"Now that… a different matter… haha… I mean the room's fancy and the food's amazing… still got lost every few turns or so inside the building though…"
"Haha… The mansion can be overwhelming at first."
"…No kidding, sir… Everyone… seems to know where they stand. I'm still figuring out where I stand."
A faint hum escaped the man's throat—neither agreement nor disagreement.
"That sounds like growth to me, young man…"
"Eh… haha… well… I'm just…"
Hmm… this man… he's… similar to… Tetsuo…
Renji felt a pang of heavy emotion inside his chest, then tried to refocus himself to the present despite the rushing memories of Tetsuo's personal moment with him.
"Yeah… I guess I'm still got a long way to walk, huh…" Renji mumbles.
"…There is no need to rush growth. Time will shape you." The man's tone was gentle, almost fatherly.
"Yet everything in this life told otherwise… got to keep up with everything all at once…"
"Oooh, you're more mature than you look… my bad…"
"I- is it…? Haha."
"But still, remember that 'Good fortune comes while you sleep'."
"Ah… I know that one… like… 'If you are in a hurry, go the long way around', right?"
"That's right… everything has their own time to ripe, just like your bruise, takes time to heal, hehe…"
"Jin-san strike was too accurate… I think it'll took lifetime to wait for it to heal as long as he's the one training me…"
"Hahahaha! I see, I see… Well. Jin is just that kind of man, but he's reliable one."
The more Renji talked to him, the more the image of this man overlaps with Tetsuo.
…Old man…
And that made him easily relaxed, and talked casually, "What about you? Been here for quite a while I guess?"
"Me? Well… been here since decades ago, so yes… you can say it's been quite a while…"
"How does it feel like living in this… uhh… kind of environment for you…?"
The man stopped his hand that keep throwing the pellets on regular interval, thinking for a bit, then answer with the same gentle smile.
"Could be worse, but as you can see… I'm here feeding these fish… how does it look to you?"
"… I guess… yeah… peaceful life is the best… hehe…"
"Yes, not bad, right…?" The warmth in his expression remained.
Before Renji could speak further, hurried footsteps echoed from inside the main building. A man in formal attire rushed toward them, stopping a few paces away before bowing deeply.
"Advisor Shinpei-sama. Tsuda-sama already inside the hall together with Reika-sama."
Not just surprised by the title, Renji's brain stalled at the name.
Advisor…? Shinpei…?
"Thank you, I will join them shortly." Shinpei replied calmly.
The mind-note he kept ever since talking with Kouga opened at certain page.
"I told you, right? I'm Shinpei's man. At least twice a month I'm accompanying him to your boss mansion."
And a certain conversation popped up in his head.
WHAT? This is THE SHINPEI Kouga talking about…??
Renji's face drained of color. He scrambled to his feet immediately his sore muscles screamed in protest, and bowed at once.
"S-Shinpei-sama! P-please forgive me! I didn't realize—"
Yet the man just laughed, casual and unbothered.
"Relax, young man… It was pleasant speaking with you."
"B-but!!"
"Where's my manner… I'm the one who forgot to introduce myself in the first place, hehe… I'm Shinpei Takaori… Kokuren's advisor."
"No this is my fault! I should've asked—"
"It's fine, really… take your time as you adjust your life here..."
"I-I—thank you for your kind words… Shinpei-sama, n-no, I mean, Takaori-sama!"
Then as Shinpei about to leave, he turned his head to him for the last time.
"Tohara-kun… If you are tired… if you feel uncertain… or if you require assistance or anything, don't hesitate to reach out to me, yes?"
"R-really? Thank you, Takaori-sama."
With that, and a single satisfied nod from him, Shinpei turned and walked back toward the main building. The morning light caught the small golden Kokuren's crest on his haori's back, glinting briefly before he disappeared past the sliding doors.
Renji remained standing beside the pond, heart still racing and cold sweat still trickling from his forehead.
…I really, really should make the habit of asking name first before anything else…
While the fish still nonchalantly savoring their leftover-floating pellets on the water surface.
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