Chapter 12 — Rumors & Truths

Jerry shrugged dismissively. 「The worthless piece of shit has fans.」​Sakura gasped, deeply offended. 「How could you say that about him?!」​Jerry leaned back, completely unfazed. 「Because… he is.」​Sakura frowned. 「What did he ever do to you?」​Jerry’s jaw tightened, the only outward sign of emotion. 「Something that, if he showed up here right now, I’d spit in his face.」​Riyuka giggled, finding the drama amusing. 「You’re sounding like a jealous ex-boyfriend.」​Jerry raised an eyebrow, his expression flat. 「What are you talking about?」​Riyuka smirked knowingly. 「Ryota does say that men tend to get jealous when their girlfriends approach him.」​Jerry scoffed, a faint curl of his lip appearing. 「So he really lives up to his ‘woman snatcher’ nickname… pathetic.」​Riyuka’s eyes twinkled, sensing a hit. 「Ha, I knew it. You didn’t like the fact your probable ex-girlfriend went up and made conversation with him.」​Jerry leaned forward, his voice dropping in volume and intensity. 「Alright… let’s say that’s true. Fine. But what would you do if I told you she was forced into that relationship by her family and the Satos?」​Riyuka blinked, caught off guard. 「Err… I mean… it would be an honor to be in the Sato family… sh-she must’ve just been difficult.」​Jerry’s lips curled into a cold half-smile. 「I see… by y’all’s standards, that’s normal. Alright, Tachibana, help me out with this: my daughter’s going to reach the age where she asks about her biological mother. What am I supposed to say? ‘Well, Marshmallow, the reason your mother can’t live with us is because a womanizing, greedy, self-serving prick from one of Japan’s richest families wanted her, and there’s nothing I could do because their families agreed, even though your mother didn’t.’ Huh?」​Riyuka and the others, except for Hana, went silent in shock.​Jerry continued, his voice calm but cutting through the silence. 「Mio Sato is my daughter’s mother. The only reason they separated us is that the Sato family hates me. But me being me… I got my lick back.」​Hana’s eyes widened, a moment of profound realization dawning. 「Ohhhhhh… so that’s why you mentioned Mrs. Yuna Sato… you slept with his mother?」 Her friends were even more shocked than before.​Jerry smirked, confirming her suspicion. 「Yeah. If he’s going to try and steal my daughter’s mother, I’ll do the same to him. I like to call it… equal exchange.」​Riyuka frowned, trying to process the brazen retaliation. 「How is that equal exchange?」​Jerry chuckled, a dark, humorless sound. 「Like the old saying: an eye for an eye. Besides, if it weren’t for all these pesky restrictions, I could do much more.」​Mikado blinked, his analytical mind kicking in. 【Wait, he has restrictions? Usually wealthy people don’t.】​Jerry’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. 「Yeah, detective… yah, I see… okay, I’ll be on it right now.」 He hung up. Turning to Hana, he smiled faintly. 「I won’t be back until Friday.」​Hana hugged him tightly, instantly accepting the news. 「It’s okay. I’ll help Ms. Haruka take care of Shizuko.」​Jerry gently kissed her forehead. Hana instantly blushed. 「If it weren’t for my D.I.D, I’d show you how much I appreciate you… but we can do that on dates,」 he said, standing up. 「And… in the bedroom.」 Then he left.​Hana giggled, covering her face with her hands. 【Wish they’d restrict his speech pattern too… he’s too blunt for me.】​Riyuka frowned, still processing the domesticity of the scene. 「Um… what was that?」​Hana blinked. 「What was what?」​Renji interjected, articulating Riyuka's thought. 「Jerry’s asking you to take care of his daughter… almost like you’re her mother.」​Hana hesitated. 「I mean… we do live together, l—」​Mikado cut her off. 「No, that’s not what he means.」​Hana sighed, trying to manage the situation. 「Look, I understand my place with Jerry and Shizu. I won’t go overboard.」​Riyuka leaned in, her voice low and speculative. 「And what if the Sato matter is settled and her mother comes back into the picture?」​Hana’s eyes hardened, recognizing the challenge. 【JJ wouldn’t be that vain… is she trying to…】 「Look, Riyuka, don’t worry. But you shouldn’t compare Jerry to someone like Ryota, who replaces people like pawns whenever he wants.」 She glared at her friend.​Riyuka huffed, irritated. 【Tch, Jerry has her under his charm.】 「Fine… I won’t. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.」
​◽Two Days Later◽
◽Friday, 08 April 2050◽
​Jerry approached Hana. 「Hey… sorry for leaving like that.」​Hana hugged him tightly, relieved. 「It’s okay. You’re back now. So… how was the job?」​They sat down. Jerry handed her a small, elegant box. 「Had to catch some nasty individuals who caused trouble in the city and fled to Tokyo. Oh… and I got you this while I was there.」​Hana giggled. 「Wow… you had time to sightsee during office hours?」​Jerry shook his head. 「No, after the work was done.」​Riyuka eyed him suspiciously. 「Tokyo is quite far. How did you manage all this in two days?」​Jerry smirked, an air of profound confidence about him. 「I have a very fast helicopter at KTPD, a sense of smell stronger than any animal on this planet, and I’m a war veteran… a side mission like this is easy compared to what I had to do as a kid.」​Hana opened the box. Gasps erupted around the table. 「Jerry… this is a diamond necklace!」​Jerry nodded. 「Yeah… a 3-carat. Thought it’d look good on you.」​Hana blushed furiously. 「Um… how much did it cost?」​Jerry grinned casually. 「¥95,084,400. But you’re worth more.」 He gently placed it around her neck. 「And hey, you can always sell it if you don’t want it.」
​Everyone else around them froze.
​Hana flustered, vehemently shaking her head. 「No! I won’t!!!」​Jerry laughed softly. 「Then just accept it.」​Blushing furiously, Hana whispered, 「Okay…」​Riyuka shook her head in disbelief. 【No way… he spent that without a second thought.】 「Jerry… you didn’t cheat while you were there, right?」​Hana gasped in shock. 「RIYUKA!!!」​Riyuka shrugged, unmoved. 「What? It’s a common tactic men use after trips.」​Jerry side-hugged Hana, pulling her close. 「It’s okay. But let me make this crystal clear—on this planet, only one woman can order me around… my grandmother. If she says Hana must become her granddaughter-in-law, I won’t wait for the wedding to treat Hana like my wife. Besides, as I said on day one, Hana’s stubborn… and I like a woman who can speak her mind.」​Hana’s ears burned. 「Can you not say stuff like that?」​Jerry shrugged again. 「It’s the truth. And with Shizuko in the picture… the obvious conclusion? I marry you.」​Sakura blushed, her eyes wide with admiration. 【Wow… Hana really found someone who’d do anything for her.】​Riyuka frowned. 【That could be a ploy…】 「Then what about the Jeong twins?」​Jerry tilted his head in confusion. 「The who?」​Renji explained. 「The Jeong twins, Jiyeon and Miyeon… first-years, excel in business. They were looking for you yesterday.」​Jerry frowned. 「Wait… I’ve met a lot of Korean people, but never those two, so why they looking for me.」​Renji shrugged. 「They didn’t say why.」
​At that moment, Jiyeon and Miyeon appeared in the doorway.
​「Hi, it’s good to meet you,」 Jiyeon said politely.​Jerry squinted, observing them intently. 「Okay… do I know you?」​Miyeon shook her head. 「No, sunbae, but we’ve heard about you.」
​Jerry’s nose twitched subtly. He switched to JJ.
​JJ glared, his demeanor instantly hostile. 「Why the hell do you two smell like that son of a bitch?」​Miyeon tilted her head, confused. 「Wait… do we stink?」​【They won’t understand without context.】 JJ’s inner voice calmed him. 「Jimmy David Adams… J.D. Adams… do you know him?」​Jiyeon blinked. 「Um… yes.」​「He’s our step father.」 Miyeon added.​JJ scoffed. 「Huh. Stepdad, you say? Could you video call him?」​Jiyeon hesitated, unsure. 「Why should we?」​JJ sighed, pulling out his phone. 「Iris, hack their phones, get JD’s number, and call him on mine.」​Iris nodded and did as instructed. JD answered.
​Miyeon gasped, astonished by his speed. 【How did he do that so fast?】​JD cleared his throat, his voice tentative. 「Um… J—」​JJ cut him off, his voice laced with venom. 「Shut the fuck up. Why did you send these twins to me?」​JD’s tone turned serious and paternal. 「JJ, no matter what happened… I’m still your father.」​JJ laughed uncontrollably, a sound devoid of warmth. 「Father? Never mind… I won’t waste oxygen on u. Fine, I’ll bite. I’ll help this favor… because you smell oddly familiar. Not your stench, but their B. O. But their clothes might need to be incinerated and they'll have to bathe in holy water to remove your smell.」 He hung up abruptly.​Turning to the twins, JJ smirked. 「Well, Jiyeon and Miyeon… turns out I’m more your oppa than sunbae.」​Miyeon blinked in confusion. 「Wait… you’re his…?」​JJ’s smirk widened. 「Second oldest son, third of four biological children.」​Jiyeon frowned. 「Five, you mean.」​JJ groaned, rubbing his temples. 「Wha—… whatever. Just send me your address. I’ll be there later.」​Jiyeon nodded, and the twins quickly departed.​JJ turned to the group, his brown eyes glinting playfully. 「You want to come too? More people, more witnesses to call out JD on his bullshit.」​Hana nodded immediately. 「Sure, I don’t mind.」​JJ looked at the rest of them. 「I know you’re suspicious, but think of it this way—you'll get a connection to one of South Korea’s richest families.」​Riyuka frowned, still skeptical. 【It makes sense, but still…】 「What exactly are you saying?」​JJ smirked. 「More connections with neighbors and international powerhouses means locals won’t try you.」​Sakura beamed, excited by the prospect. 「I want to go. Sounds fun.」​JJ grinned. 「Then what about you boys?」​Mikado shrugged, ever practical. 「I’m in it for future business opportunities.」​Renji sighed in mild resignation. 「Grandma said doors open when I’m with you… might as well.」​JJ turned to Riyuka, who was the last holdout.​Riyuka hesitated, then folded her arms. 「…Alright. Someone needs to keep an eye on you.」​JJ scoffed, picking up his phone. 「Morning, detective. A local pissed me off and needs medical attention. Don’t worry, he’ll be breathing.」 He hung up. 「See y’all at the location.」​Renji chuckled nervously, watching him leave. 「You don’t think he’s the rumored ‘Hunter,’ do you?」​Mikado nodded, confirming the suspicion. 「Considering his police connections and free rein… yeah, he could be.」​Hana tilted her head, intrigued. Hunter?​Renji explained. 「Back in high school, rumors said someone worked with the police, but used… unconventional methods to catch criminals.」​Mikado added, his voice low. 「Even though officials and influential people said he was bad, he was well-liked… especially by women.」​Hana thought to herself. 【Oh… is that so…】