A Family Visit

“What happened when you brought Natsumi with you?” I said.

“Someone had this clever idea to persuade me to stay using force,” said Mana, staring at Matsumoto. “Luckily, Natsumi managed to knock them all out.”

“It was a mistake and unprofessional on my part. It won’t happen again.”

The driver pulled up to a massive western-style mansion. At the gated entrance, seven suited men stood waiting, and they bowed when the car pulled up.

As we drove through the long road into the resident, I spotted hedge mazes, a rose garden, and gazebo. A gardener was clipping the hedges, and sprinklers spewed water, shining rainbows with the sunlight’s help.

At the entrance to the mansion, butlers in suits and maids in their outfits bowed as we stepped out. The lines of maids and butler parted for us, and Matsumoto led us inside. A shining, massive chandelier hung over our heads, and two staircases curled upwards. Beyond that laid an open room with two couches facing each other and a table in the middle, the ceiling high above it.

We took a seat, and Matsumoto went off to tell the homeowner about our appearance. I looked out the window, seeing several suited guards. They patrolled the area, not allowing even the smallest bee to distract them.

Footsteps came down the stairs, and Matsumoto revealed herself with two people behind her. One was a blond-haired woman sporting a white pantsuit, and she introduced herself as Kanda Michelle. The other was a man dressed in a tan suit, and he called himself Kanda Daisuke. They took a seat facing us, and the Gold Stars detective distanced herself from us.

“Mana, look at you! You’re hurt. It’s time you stopped your nonsense and return home,” said Michelle. She leaned forward and tried to touch her daughter’s hand, but she pulled away.

“I’m only here because of a promise to Rika. It’s time for me to go.” We prepared to leave, but Michelle rose, anger in her voice.

“Your father is running for mayor. I will not have you sully his name with your antics!”

Mana craned her neck, looking at her mother with rage across her face. “My name is Ozaki Mana, and he—” she pointed at the seated man who wore a nervous smile, “is not my father.

A scream would’ve exploded from Michelle had Daisuke not interrupted. “Honey, I’m more worried about Mana’s wellbeing than the election.” He looked at her. “Your mother is incredibly worried about you even if it’s not properly shown. At the very least, stay here for her sake. You won’t be trapped here and can go wherever you want.”

Mana turned her back to them. From where I stood, I could see her eyes were lowered on the ground. When she had decided, she faced them.

“One more condition. There is a girl by the name of Koike Akiko. I want you to pay for her medical procedure and make sure she’s safe.”

Daisuke nodded with a warm smile. “Of course. It will be done.”

Michelle heaved a sigh. “Dear, I’ll have the servants show you to your room. Unfortunately, Kazuo is at work right now, so he won’t show up right now.”

A maid approached us and led Mana upstairs. I followed after, entering the second floor. It was even more spacious than I had expected, and I couldn’t help but scan my surroundings, taking in the size of the mansion.

“Quit staring. It’s not that impressive. Why are you here anyways?” said Mana, scowling.

I shrugged. “They didn’t even know I was there, so I’m just going to stick with you.”

I peered inside each room as we passed, noticing how large they all were. The maid led us to Mana’s room, and it had a bed and empty nightstands flanking it. Daisuke climbed the stairs, and he approached us. He smiled at Mana then faced me.

“Sir, I apologize for the lack of hospitality earlier. Please, shall we have a chat?”

I was wandering around aimlessly. There wouldn’t be any reason for me to refuse, so I accepted. He led me down the stairs and into a room where sunlight glowed the room. There was a table with a white cloth draped over it and two barstools facing one another. We sat, and I anticipated his next words. Daisuke shifted in his seat as if testing it for comfortableness.

“Would you like something to drink? We have coffee.”

“Sure,” I said, desiring something cold instead. A maid emerged from the shadows, and I tried my best poker face. I hadn’t even noticed her presence until now. He ordered two iced coffees, and she left for the back. He rested his hands on the table and clasped them.

“Thank you for taking care of Mana for these past months. You have my gratitude,” said Daisuke, bowing his head.

“I was just doing my job.” My hands were free, and I wished there was something to keep them occupied.

“I hope you don’t see her badly after today.”

“Not at all.”

With how her mother had acted, even a fire had been lit inside me, but I knew better than to speak up. The earlier maid came out holding two iced coffees. The ice clinked and liquid sloshed as she set it down. I drank, palms pressed against the coldness.

“The three of us worked at that same office you do now.”

“I didn’t know,” I said, caressing the glass.

“I guess she never told you. Michelle and Masanori were partners, both in crime and in life. I was just the receptionist, running away from family circumstances.” He took a sip and gazed out the window. Purple rosemary gleamed in the sunlight outside, brushing against the brick wall of the mansion.

“He was the strongest person I ever knew, and he died of cancer,” said Daisuke. “Cancer!” he repeated as if it was a punchline to a joke.

“He worried for us until his final breath. He didn’t want Mana to be fatherless and Kazuo motherless, so he begged me and Michelle to marry.”

My brows were raised. All this time, I thought that there had been an affair.

I leaned forward. “If you explain this to Mana, I’m sure she’d understand.”

Daisuke raised a hand. “We did when she was little.” He heaved a sigh, and I could imagine how that conversation went.

“If you want, I can talk to her.”

He shook his head. “No. This is between her and us. Besides, I’m sure deep inside, she already understand. It just takes time.”

I picked up the glass and pushed the rim to my lips. The coffee was diluted with melted ice and lacked coolness. I enjoyed it, nonetheless, basking in the sunshine. I eyed the man before me and thought of the Gold Stars. Since they were under the employment of the Kanda family, I had expected him to be their head, but he didn’t remind me of a leader in the least. The maid approached the table, and I thought she would retrieve the glasses. She faced me instead.

“Mr. Katayama Masaru, the madame would like a word.”

Daisuke looked at the maid, then to the glass, and finally to me. He gripped the edge of the table, pushing himself up. I didn’t know what Michelle wanted to talk to me for, and I stood, preparing to follow the maid out.

“Katayama. The drinks Michelle offers are generally not suited for guests.” He gave a sly smile.

I nodded and followed the maid out of the sunroom. She led me outside from the backdoor where Michelle and several guards awaited.

“For the time being, would you care to join me for a cup of tea? I wanted to thank you for protecting my daughter.”

The white-suited woman and I walked to the garden, the guards following us like we were mother ducks. She stepped into the shade of the gazebo and took a seat. I followed after, looking at the garden and rainbows. The men surrounded the gazebo and faced outwards, blocking the exit.

A maid brought out a tea set, pouring us some tea. I watched as her fingers moved across the teapot, and the liquid gleamed under the light as it flowed into the cups. We raised it to our mouths, and I felt the warm tea on my lips before removing the cup, not taking a sip. The woman did the same and smiled at me. The guards stepped inside the gazebo next to Michelle. They unholstered their pistols, suppressors attached, and aimed at me. I returned the tea cup onto the saucer.

“This is how you thank people?” I said.

“This is how I deal with the filth of the underworld.”

Like I thought, she was the leader of the Gold Stars, not the politician. I crossed my legs, leaning back into the chair. I wasn’t planning to die here.

“I left that life behind.”

“My sources say otherwise. You still retain the brutality which you used to butcher dangerous men.”

“Then you’ll know that it’ll take much more than this to kill me.” The guards backed away a bit, their hands shaking.

“We’ll see about that.” She beckoned them to shoot.

“Hold your fire,” said Matsumoto from outside the gazebo.

They turned their heads to look at her then removed their finger from the trigger, but I still stared down the many muzzles.

“I apologize for disobeying you, ma’am, but I cannot in good conscious order this man killed.”

“You would defend this disgraced assassin?”

“It is thanks to him that Mana still lives, and that peace has returned. He is better alive than dead.”

“I’m not going to join the Gold Stars,” I said.

Matsumoto raised a hand to silence me. “Call your men off. Mana wouldn’t be happy with this either.”

I continued staring down the muzzles for a few moments before Michelle ordered them down. They removed themselves from the gazebo and disappeared. I rose while she stayed seated.

“Thanks for saving me,” I said.

“Think nothing of it. I was only weighing the pros and cons of having you dead.”

Matsumoto led me to the entrance where Mana stood, waiting. She had a few things to grab at the office and would return once she got them.

She had her fist on her chin during the car ride. “Are you sure about this?” I said.

She nodded. “Akiko will be able to live. It’s the least I can do.”

Natsumi was in the office while Aimi was gone. She had gone to her dorm to check it out. We gave her the details, and she scowled. Mana walked around the office, grabbing a few things. Natsumi was shifting around, a stern expression on her face. When Mana reached the entryway, she stopped us.

“There’s something I haven’t told you two.”

We faced her and nodded, knowing what was coming.

“The Rats were responsible for giving Tadao that suitcase which led to his death. We’re the ones that got him killed. I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.” She gave a deep bow.

“I know. Raise your head, Natsumi. The fault doesn’t only lie with you. It’s with all of us,” said Mana. She lifted her head, but her expression was still stern.

“Inside the suitcase was something of great importance.” I was waiting for this.

“Details of Kanda Daisuke’s security and its weaknesses were sold.”

I took a step back, already knowing what this meant. With the Gold Stars weakened, this was the perfect opportunity to strike.

“I neglected to tell the Gold Stars about this during the negotiations. I would ask that you not reveal this information to them.”

We nodded, not wanting a war on our hands. There wasn’t anything we could do now but wait. Mana bid us goodbye before leaving. I stood outside in the doorway, watching the sun set.

“You staying here tonight?” said Kido.

“Yeah. Haven’t got anywhere else. What about you, Kido?”

“I’m needed at the resident to finish up some stuff,” she paused, “As there are more than one Kido now, call me Natsumi.”

I nodded, heading back into the airconditioned office. When the windows were orange, Natsumi bid her farewell, leaving me alone. I stared out the window, gazing at the sunset. It died and darkness took over. I shut the blinds and flicked the light switches off, laying on the couch. It had been a long couple of days, but I was finally able to get some rest. Even though trouble loomed on the horizon, this was the perfect chance to sit back and relax, preparing for the next adversary.

The dark granted me peace, but it also gave me time to reflect. The Kanda family had reminded me of my own even if it was the complete opposite. As long as I could remember, I had no father, and my mother raised me on her own. It was only in my third year of junior high school when I dabbled in wetwork. I promised myself I would stop once I reached high school, but when my mother died in an accident, I lost purpose and continued it, not even entering high school. These memories flooded my mind until I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.