Behind Toru stood a small and delicate girl.
Her skin was fair and translucent, almost transparent. Her delicate face was expressionless, making her look pitiful, like a beautiful doll that had been abandoned.
She wore a beautiful but not overly elaborate evening gown, revealing a hint of her snow-white shoulders. She raised her head slightly, her light golden eyes staring intently at Toru.
Haibara Ai, who was standing beside Toru, immediately perked up when she heard the words "kept woman".
However, after hearing the name Sakiko, she lowered her head in disappointment, guessing that the girl had misunderstood.
"Kept woman?"
Toru looked at the doll-like girl in confusion.
Mutsumi nodded lightly. "Yes, last time it rained, I saw Sakiko get out of your car."
"So you think I'm keeping Sakiko?"
Mutsumi thought for a moment. "Sakiko has been very happy recently, and she even bought new clothes."
She was well aware of Sakiko's situation.
Over the past year, Sakiko would calculate even her meals down to the last yen, let alone buy new clothes.
In such circumstances, suddenly spending money on new clothes, coupled with seeing her get out of Toru's luxury car that day, naturally led to speculation.
Toru was speechless. Was this girl studying journalism? Starting with a picture and making up everything else?
His reputation was about to be ruined.
He did not want to argue, but thinking it would be bad for Sakiko, he still explained, "It has nothing to do with being kept. If you understand Sakiko's personality, you should know she would never accept that."
"She's just working for me. Yes, she comes to my house at fixed times every day to cook and clean. I bought the Togawa family's Western-style mansion."
Mutsumi froze for a moment, clasped her hands over her abdomen, and bowed. "I'm sorry, I misunderstood."
Toru's expression improved slightly.
At least she corrected herself when she realized her mistake. He thought she might be one of those unreasonable young ladies.
"It's alright. Misunderstandings happen. It just shows you care about Sakiko. Are you relieved now?"
"Yes. I apologize for bothering you."
Mutsumi bowed again and turned to leave. Before going, she hesitated and whispered, "...Thank you for helping Sakiko. I wanted to help her too, but she wouldn't accept it."
"It's nothing. She deserves the help."
From her straightforward way of speaking, it was obvious that her method of helping Sakiko was probably too direct.
With Sakiko's pride, how could she accept that?
"Is that Sakiko's good friend?"
Haibara crossed her arms and asked, watching Mutsumi's retreating figure.
Toru nodded and glanced toward the couple in the direction she had gone. They were likely her parents.
"Yes. Her parents are over there. They seem to be a comedian and an actress."
"So that's Wakaba. He's often on TV. I've seen some of his shows, they're quite interesting."
Although Haibara had studied in America for a few years, she had spent most of her life in Japan, so many of her preferences were still quite Japanese.
For example, comedians.
"When I was chatting with Sakiko before, she mentioned this Mutsumi. She should be her best friend."
"Why do you say that?"
"You know Sakiko's pride. She'd rather work as a customer service rep than at a convenience store just to avoid being seen by former friends. But Mutsumi knows her situation, which means they're very close."
"You seem to know Sakiko quite well."
"After all, she works at our place. I need to understand everything carefully. Your identity is too sensitive. Any potential problem needs to be prevented in advance."
Toru's use of the words "our place" made Haibara's lips curl slightly in satisfaction.
"Mutsumi, how did you meet Fujiwara-kun? Are you close to him?"
Mr. and Mrs. Wakaba immediately asked when they saw her return.
They even held a bit of hope. Although their daughter was cold and distant, her appearance was undeniable. Could Fujiwara-kun be interested in her?
What if he already had a fiancée? They weren't married yet.
Even if he were married... well, never mind.
Mutsumi shook her head. "Not familiar. I met him through Sakiko."
"Sakiko?"
Wakaba frowned.
He knew what had happened to the Togawa family. He used to be on good terms with Sakiko's father, but once the latter became addicted to gambling, he cut off contact.
As a famous comedian, Wakaba also kept mistresses, but that was all. He stayed away from gamblers.
As for Sakiko, he did not dislike her at all. In fact, he pitied her.
A former young lady whose life collapsed overnight, yet she did not fall into ruin and continued working hard. She was an excellent child.
So he did not stop Mutsumi from associating with Sakiko.
But it was a pity. Mutsumi and Toru were not close, they merely knew each other.
"Mutsumi, you said Fujiwara-kun opened a café in Ikebukuro and sometimes goes there?"
Her mother, Minami Mori, asked.
"Yes."
"Mutsumi, you should go there often after school for a drink. If you see Fujiwara-kun, you can use Sakiko as an excuse to talk to him more. You'll become familiar over time."
"Yes."
Wakaba hesitated but said nothing.
He was a good father and did not want to push his daughter too much.
When she was young, Mutsumi had appeared on several programs as a child star, but after realizing she was not suited for it and did not enjoy it, Wakaba did not force her to continue.
Otherwise, with her looks, he would definitely have pushed her into the entertainment industry.
However, regarding his wife's suggestion, he did not refute it.
Her approach was pragmatic, but that was how the entertainment industry worked. If you did not strive forward, you would be eliminated.
And elimination in this industry often led to miserable outcomes.
Wakaba was not Takeshi Kitano. He had not reached national-level fame. Whether as a comedian or his wife as an actress, it was easy to offend someone and fall from grace.
The higher you climbed in the entertainment industry, the more you needed backing.
That was also why the Wakaba couple had come to the Suzuki Group anniversary event, humbly trying to connect with important figures.
This was social etiquette.
They had no reason or opportunity to approach someone like Toru themselves, nor did they have resources to exchange.
But Mutsumi was different. She was young and could approach him as a peer.
They did not expect an intimate relationship. Even becoming acquaintances could bring great benefits to Mutsumi and the Wakaba family in the future.
That was the heir of the Fujiwara family.
Look at the Shinomiya family, the Special Investigation Department, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police officials, even the host Suzuki Foundation. Everyone present was trying to get to know him.
Perhaps Toru did not hold much real power now, but the influence behind him was enormous, especially since he was mysterious and rumored to have strong connections in America.
At this moment, Toru looked toward the main entrance.
A dignified and elegant woman who looked only in her twenties, dressed in formal attire, arrived with a small child.
Haibara followed his gaze.
It was Yukiko and Conan.
"It's Kudo Shinichi. He's really persistent. Hmm, why are you sighing?"
Haibara noticed Toru seemed helpless.
"It's nothing. I just have a bad feeling that something will happen whenever I see him. I wonder who's going to die."
Toru looked around. The venue was full of important figures. Whoever died here would surely become tomorrow's headline.
Haibara thought for a moment and smiled. "You're right. It does seem like wherever he goes, there's a murder case."
After greeting acquaintances, Yukiko spotted Toru and walked over with Conan.
When Conan saw Haibara standing beside him, looking at him with a half-smile, he immediately felt nervous.
"Ms. Yukiko, I didn't expect you to attend the Suzuki Group's anniversary celebration as well. I still remember going to Gunma with Ms. Kisaki last time. You look so beautiful today, you might outshine the younger girls here."
Toru said with a meaningful smile.
Yukiko showed no reaction and replied with a smile, "Fujiwara-kun is too kind. I'm already old, I can't compare to the young girls here."
The two shook hands, appearing familiar but not particularly close.
However, when no one was looking, Yukiko winked at him and lightly hooked his palm with her little finger, as if hinting at something.
Just as Toru was about to speak, a commotion broke out in the venue.
Hollywood actress Chris Vineyard had arrived.
Everyone was stunned to see that the famous star walked toward Toru with a pleasantly surprised expression.
Haibara's heart skipped a beat. An inexplicable fear surged within her.
That was the scent of the Organization.
Someone from the Organization was nearby.
And Chris Vineyard's next words made everyone's eyes widen.
"Darling, I didn't expect to see you here."
Seeing Vermouth approach him so enthusiastically, Toru was momentarily stunned.
What kind of play was this?
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)