Huh, Katsuko-nee won’t come?
I asked instinctively.
I cannot go to such places. Nagisa is already Retiredfor years so she can pass.But I’m still in Active service There’s a lot of people I would be troubled to face
Katsuko-nee choses her words carefully in front of Maika.
.I see Katsuko-nee will have lots of her guests coming in there too.
I will be alright but.those people
The guest would be coming with his wife and daughter and yet, he would see Katsuko-nee’s face.That’s certainly hard.
Therefore, I will be just a support on the day after tomorrow!
.Eh?
Not House watching.But Support That means that there’s something scheduled to be executed at that day. As Kuromori.
.Katsuko, how’s the rear?
Sensei has been observing the state outside the car since a while ago.
She’s been staring at the darkness where the street lights doesn’t hit.
There’s no abnormality on the rear as well. There’s no lookout or ambush it seems.
Katsuko-nee is also checking the outside through the rear window.
It seems that Shirasaka’s head doesn’t begin to move yet.
Yes. Shirasaka Sousuke from Australia cannot contact Japan.the clan and the company still thinks that he’s on a normal business trip
Sensei turned to us.
Okay.We’re about to go. Megumi and Yoshida-kun will be with me. Katsuko and Maika will wait inside the car
.Okay
Megu’s nervous.
I’ve brought a hidden microphone so Maika-san will be listening with Katsuko in here
Sensei tells Maika.
.Maika-san, you still don’t trust us from the bottom of your heart, don’t you?
.Eh?
Maika swallows her saliva.
Therefore.I’d like you to listen to my talk with Yamamine-san. You don’t think that Yamamine-san is also conspiring with us just to fool Maika-san, do you?
Well.Yes, I think that uncle Yamamine won’t do that
Sensei looks straight at Maika.
Then.Listen. I want Maika-san to understand the truth about Shirasaka house
Yes.understood
Maika replied.
.Bring this
Katsuko-nee handed me a small digital camera
Take photos of Megumi-chan’s family and her room as well
.Take photos
Megumi-chan will be parting from this house today.take a commemoration photo
Megu can no longer return to this house
The house she lived for ten years. She’ll part from her foster parents.
I’ll quote a famous photographer I respect.Take as much photos as possible. We’ll forget about it anyway.Human’s are quite forgetful. Therefore, you should leave it as a photos as much as possible so you won’t forget it3
.Katsuko-nee
Got it.I’ll take photos
I hold the camera firmly.
Yoshi-kun.I
Megu’s trembling.
It’s okay.I’m here with you
I kiss Megu.
.I’m home
The glass door opened with a rattling sound.And Megu calls out.
Footsteps can be heard from the house A middle aged man and woman with an age around fifty shows up.
.Megumi
Megumi bows to the two.
I’m sorry for staying overnight yesterday.Father, Mother
Megu’s parents.doesn’t look like Megu at all.
That’s obvious however. Megu’s foster parents have a third of their hair white. They look like decent people. They must’ve been back just from work. He’s still wearing a necktie on his gray suit. A shabby worn out suit. It feels like he’s wearing an
RTW
from a bargain sale for very long. The mother is just a usual simple mother. Short hair and no makeup. She looks at Megu in worry.
I’m Kuromori.the one who contacted you the other day
Yuzuki-sensei greeted Megu’s foster parents
You?
Yes.I’m the current head of Kuromori
Sensei answered with her usual cold eyes.
Well.whatever it is, let’s talk inside.dear
Megu’s foster mother talked to her husband.
yes.we should. Kuromori-san.please come in
.Excuse me
Sensei took off her shoes.
Uhm.This person?
Megu’s foster mother looks at me
.Megumi’s friend?
.I
Yes. I’m Megumi-san’s classmate. And.A person of Kuromorihouse
Megumi’s foster parents might not know the name Kuromorias a crime syndicate.
That’s why I answered like that.
He’s not a suspicious guy.He came with us to help Megumi-san carry her luggage
Sensei explains.
I see.if we’re going out of this house We have to take Megumi’s luggage.
It’s okay, father, mother.he’s a trustworthy person
Megu told her foster parents with serious eyes
Understood.please come in
I took off my shoes as well
This way.
The room next to the door is the living room
There’s a low table in the Japanese style room. Megu’s foster mother puts out a floor cushion. When everyone sits on a 8.42 square meter room4, it’s narrow. There’s a Kokeshi, and a wooden bear on the cupboard. There’s a simple calendar on the wall. Somehow, this looks like Showa era. When tea was distributed to everyone, the foster father started the talk.
Megumi.Are you sure that they’re the people you stayed with before?
Yes father. There’s no doubt. I’ve been indebt with Kuromori-san before I came to this house. I was small back then but I remember it well Megumi-san’s mother.Keiko-san has been kind with me. I think that this is the time to repay the kindness she has given me
Sensei talks to Megu’s foster mother.
I think that you already know this but.Megumi’s real father, Shirasaka Sousuke will make her a prostitute. I will never allow that to happen. I will take custody of Megumi. And, I’ll protect her at a place where Shirasaka house cannot reach
But.Kuromori-san. Weren’t you managing the prostitution organization with Sousuke-san?
Megu’s foster father seems to hold clear distrust.
I’ve already stopped the operation of the prostitution organization already. At the same time, I’ve already banished Shirasaka Sousuke from our organization. We’re currently separated completely from Shirasaka Sousuke
Sensei answered clearly.
.You say that but.I cannot trust you
The foster father declared so.
To be honest.I don’t want to hand Megumi to Sousuke-san. There’s no parent who wants to make their treasured daughter a prostitute. But.Kuromori-san and Sousuke-san are in the same prostitution organization, weren’t you? There’s no guarantee that if I leave Megumi to you, she won’t become a prostitute
For normal people.There’s no difference between Shirasaka Sousuke and Sensei.
Both of them were managers of the prostitution organization Kuromori. It must be unreasonable to trust them.
.Shirasaka Sousuke has already been caught in a trap
Sensei declared with cold eyes.
He’s captured by our people in Australia. His trouble with the gangs will be found out soon. Shirasaka Sousuke will lose his position certainly. Shirasaka house will banish him
Megu’s foster mother is startled.
If that happens.Megumi-san will be taken over by the head of Shirasaka house. For the head of Shirasaka house, Megumi-san is Shirasaka Sousuke’s shameful child. She’ll be likely to be hidden from the world. I think that she’ll be separated from Yamamine-sama too. I think that she’ll be entrusted to someone in the province that’s under Shirasaka house and she’ll be kept there until she dies That’s better than her being a prostitute!
Megu’s foster mother shouted.
Megumi-san should be the one to decide which is better and what life she’ll live. Megumi-san.what do you want to do?
Sensei looks at Megu.
Megu.spoke to her foster parents.
Father, Mother.Megumi will be going to Kuromori-san
Megu bowed to her parents.
I don’t want to live being dragged around by Shirasaka house anymore. Megumi wants to leave Shirasaka house no matter what result it gives me
Her foster parents look at each other.