chapter 24: The truth
The Hitachiin brothers arrived at the Shen Locally newspaper office to look for Akira Komatsuzawa. They were both disguised, because Kyoya was suspicious that Komatsuzawa might recognize them, even after 11 years. He did not want to take any risks. Kaoru was disguised in an elegant-looking outfit with a blond wig and reading glasses, while Hikaru was wearing a black wig, fake moustache and a fedora. The brothers were looking for Komatsuzawa's office, but could not find it. Kaoru asked one of the employees, pretending it was for the sake of an interview (not that this was completely untrue, depending on how one viewed it), and she told him the office was at the end of the corridor on the left. He thanked the woman and with Hikaru they followed the directions.
They finally found the office. The door was medium-sized and it said "Kankanazawa" on it. At first, Hikaru and Kaoru thought that they might have gotten confused on the way. However, the employee said that this was Komatsuzawa's office, so it must be it. Apparently, Ren was so despicable that she could not even write correctly the names of her employees on the doors. Kaoru knocked on the door with the knuckles on his left hand and after he heard a small "come in", he opened the door, entering the office, with Hikaru following him.
Now when they were in, they were frightened by what they saw- piles and piles of paperwork and photographs. Komatsuzawa was pretty much swimming in work, and how was he still alive was beyond them. Akira looked so exhausted, that he could not even move properly, as he was shaking like an autumn leaf. He looked a little different from how they remembered him. Now after 11 years, he had shorter hair and and a few small wrinkles around his eyes, but it was most likely due to tiredness, judging from the mountains of paper.
- Hello, there Mr. Komatsuzawa!- Kaoru greeted politely.- My name is Hugh Jazz and this is my partner Poppy Kakas.- the twins snickered. They came up with their own fake aliases for the sake of the disguise and picked the most ridiculous-sounding names as a way to mess with Komatsuzawa. They wondered how long it would take him, until he says something about the names.- We are here to ask you some questions.
- Me?- Komatsuzawa said nervously.- What kinds of questions?
- We come from another newspaper company, looking for new employees. We chose the Shen Locally as a "donor". Wink! Wink!
- You...- Komatsuzawa said with hesitation, as he was getting up.- want to...hire me?- small smile was appearing on his face. The twins could tell that he was miserable here.
- Of course, but we first need to get to know you.- "Hugh" said.- Could you please show me the cafeteria, so we can discuss it over a cup of tea?
- Of course, Mr. Jazz!- Komatsuzawa fixed his glasses and gestured to the direction of the cafeteria with Kaoru following him.
- I'll catch up with you later, gentlemen!- Hikaru said.- I need to go to the restroom first. Could you please show me where it is?
- Yes, it's right there.- Komatsuzawa gestured to the direction of the bathroom, and he and Kaoru were heading towards the cafeteria leaving Hikaru behind.
Hikaru pretended to be going to the bathroom, but then he quickly returned to the office to look for evidence against Kyoya. So far, he could not see any pictures, but he did see something that looked like an exposé. On it said lies, like how Kyoya was hitting on his teenage maid. Disgusting! Ren must have sank really low to make Komatsuzawa write this.
At the employees' cafeteria, Kmatsuzawa was drinking tea with whom he thought was "Hugh Jazz", but was actually Kaoru Hitachiin in a disguise. For now the journalist did not seem suspicious of the disguise:
- So, Mr. Komatsuzawa, what is your current work about?- Kaoru was investigating further, while his brother was looking in the office.
- I am writing a really disturbing exposé about Kyoya Ootori.- Komatsuzawa answered a little freaked out.
- Kyoya Ootori?- Kaoru pretended to be surprised.- The owner of the "Ootori's family dream" holiday club.
- The same one.
- My, what has he done, to cause such a reaction from you?
- Well..- Komatsuzawa was hesitant, but found the courage to say it.- He has an affair with his teenage maid, who has been working for him for a very short time. I knew he was creepy, but not a pedophile.
- What do you mean?-Kaoru asked.
- You see, Mr. Jazz, I have actually known him since high school.
- Really?- Kaoru pretended to be surprised again.- That's a long time.
- More than a decade actually. We were not close, neither we had any sort of positive relationships. We were both members of clubs, who simply knew each other. I was the president of the newspaper club and he was the vice-president of the host club. We never interacted directly, until one day I wanted to write about the host club members, looking for what made them tick, but Ootori threatened me to stay away from them. He pretty much forced me actually. I still see that man in my nightmares. I do not understand how he can be a pedophile, though? I know that he has two little girls now, but I guess that even a pedophile has his standards.
- I am thinking.- Kaoru said.- Even if he does have an affair with his employee, which I am not sure about, does that really make him a pedophile? I mean, he is in his 30's, and the maid is almost 20. She is practically an adult now. Besides, has the maid herself had any complaints about working for Kyoya Ootori. Have you ever interviewed her for the sake of confirming the authenticity of this information?
- Well, no, actually.- Komatsuzawa answered with a worried look on his face.- You see, this is the information that my boss Ren Shen gave me. She told me to just write and not ask any questions. Remember the two little girls I mentioned? My boss is looking whether her ex-husband has some skeletons in the closet, so she can get custody of their children.
- This seems like a red flag to me.- Kaoru said.- back to the job offer now, shall we?
Kaoru told Komatsuzawa all the details about the new job. True, that he just pretended to be hiring, but the job offer was completely real. Kaoru told Komatsuzawa about the job and how it is part of Kyoya's own holiday club. Kyoya thought that it would be a good idea to not only keep Akira Komatsuzawa under his won supervision, but also to offer him better work conditions, which he knew Akira would like. Being away from Ren is always a better offer, anyway. Besides, part of him wanted to make up to Akira after their last encounter 11 years ago.
- You come from Kyoya Ootori's holiday club?- Komatsuzawa said very surprised after Kaoru told him where the job offer came from.
- Any complaints?- Kaoru asked confidently, as if he knew Komatsuzawa would accept.
- It's just...so- Komatsuzawa could not pick the correct words. Though, he indeed, hated working for Ren Shen, he still did not trust her ex-husband either. However, the offer does sound pretty tempting- better office, better salary, a chance to write the way he wanted, being away from Ren, and the list did not end here.
- What?- Kaoru asked.- "So" what? You know, you do not need to accept right now, but I do want you to make the right choice. I think you know what I mean.
Akira nodded, as if he knew what "Hugh" was referring to. Then, he remembered something important:
- Um, it seems that your partner does not feel very good.- after he noticed "Hugh"'s confused expression, he added.- I mean, he was in the bathroom for a very long time, wasn't he?
Now when he knew what were they talking about, Kaoru nodded in agreement:
- Oh, yes! Yes! Big boy must be a fighter.- Kaoru joked.
After what seemed to be a minute of awkward silence, "Poppy" finally returned. "I guess this is why they call him Poppy Kakas.", Komatsuzawa thought. Hikaru winked to his brother, so Kaoru gave Akira a piece of paper with Kyoya's phone number, while saying:
- Okay, Mr. Komatsuzawa, it was nice having this chance to talk with you. Call us if you make a decision. Take care!- ha said, waving as a goodbye.
Back at the Ootori's mansion, Priti was waiting for everyone else to return. Kyoya was at work, the girls at school, everyone else also were working, leaving the maid alone in the big house. Suddenly, she heard the door bell ring and rushed to open the door, hoping it was either a member of the Ootori family (except for Ren or Yoshio, of course) or a member of the former host club. When she opened the door, she saw her boss Kyoya standing in front of her:
- Welcome back, Mr. Ootori!- she bowed.
- Good to be back, Miss Priti!- he responded, giving her his coat to hang it.- Are the kids here already?
- Still in school.
- Okay.- Kyoya said casually. His phone rang. It were the Hitachiin brothers. Both Kyoya and Priti hoped that the brothers had good news:
- Hello?- Kyoya answered the call.- How is it going?
- Mission accomplished, sir!- Hikaru answered.- The false evidence is right here in my arms, ready to be destroyed. Komatsuzawa might need to start all over again, this will give us time.
- Or maybe not. Kaoru joined the conversation.- I talked with him about the fake controversy and the job offer.
- Does he accept?- Kyoya asked.
- Not sure.- Kaoru answered.- I guess he needs some time, but I hope I convinced him to, at least, not spread lies about you and Miss Priti.
- Excellent!- Kyoya said, fixing his glasses.- Well done, gentlemen!
Back at the Shen Locally newspaper office, Ren was very mad at Akira Komatsuzawa for losing the prototype of the article:
- What do you mean you don't know where it is?- she said angrily.
- I don't know what happened.- Komatsuzawa said anxiously.- I put it right here on my desk. Nobody else has seen it. I swear!
- Are you sure nobody, but you, has been here?
- Well- Komatsuzawa had no choice but to be honest with his boss.- there were two gentlemen earlier.
- Continue!
- They...- being honest about a new job offer was not an easy task.- wanted to...- he did not want to even imagine how Ren would react.
- Spill! The! Beans!- Ren was losing patience- Or else, you want me to fire you right here and now.
Komatsuzawa did not give her a quick answer, as he was afraid of her wrath. Not talking, though, was much worse, so he finally found the courage to reveal everything:
- THEY WANTED TO OFFER ME A JOB.- he said very quickly, but did not feel any relief.
- What?- Ren said, this time more quietly, but it did not mean she was not still angry.
- They came here and interviewed me. That's all. Nothing else happened.
- It did not occur to you, that they might have stolen the prototype?!- Ren shouted at his face.
Komatsuzawa used a piece of paper as a shield, but Ren was not interested in attacking him anymore. There was only one thing left to do with that idiot:
- You're fired!- Ren said with a more calm voice this time.
Ren was sitting in her own office, drinking tea, to help calm her nerves. How could Komatsuzawa be so stupid?! This whole plan with framing Kyoya did not seem to be going anywhere. Apparently, making lies about him is not much of a help, when you have to count on so many other people to do the dirty work. Maybe she did not need a complex plan. Maybe she needed something a little bit more simple. Maybe she needed to be more direct. Without involving the maid this time, even though she would get rid of her too anytime. No! This time. Ren was going to be honest.
Ren took her phone and dialed Kyoya's number. It was time for a family visit.
