Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Danganronpa.
Chapter 28:
The Tragedy of the Akira
Akira Hayama.
What could the man say about himself that didn't sound self-centered? Because he wasn't trying to be. Honest. But there could be some embellishment here and there. Just normal bias that every human was guilty of at one point or another.
Or was that just him being bias already? Trying to excuse his own lies before he made them?
Who knows.
Hayama has lived a long life. By most accounts, it was a fulfilling one. He had everything anyone could wish for and then some. His wealth didn't compare to that of the Togami family, but no one could match them no matter how hard they tried. And many people had tried. They all failed. That being said, outside of them, Hayama had no real competition when it came to wealth and power. Not as far as Japan was concerned.
He wasn't always this successful of course. He had started out in this world with very little.
Truth be told, he didn't remember much from his childhood. Maybe he repressed it? His parents were no exception when it came to this convenient amnesia. He had little memory of his parents before running away at the age of thirteen. He could only remember them fighting all the time. His father, screaming about their money problems. His mother, weeping in their bedroom as if the tears were going to wash away the nightmare she was in.
Had they loved him? Hayama couldn't say. They had provided for him, so he couldn't say they hated him. Not truly. But what Hayama did know was that he had made their lives miserable.
His parents had been a relatively happy couple when they first started out. They weren't overflowing with money, but they had enough to get by. It was only when Hayama entered the picture that things started going downhill.
Or so he remembered. Maybe that was just another lie on his part? Maybe he had just been a terrible kid, plain and simple, and trying to pin the blame on money was his way of shifting responsibility so that he didn't have to feel guilty?
Who could say. Hayama didn't remember, after all.
But to Hayama, that was the tragedy of his parents. No, perhaps the tragedy of many couples so madly in love. They never stop to consider the consequences of their actions, such as bringing a new life into the world. No, they simply let themselves get swept up in the drug known as love, only to be shoved back into reality once it wore out. Maybe he was being a little tough on his parents. Despite their terrible choices, Hayama was still thankful to them.
He wouldn't be here without them.
But you see, this was one of the very first lessons Hayama had taken to heart in his life. Watching his parents wither away, as their love crumbled apart around them…..it was devastating.
That's why Hayama had made sure to not repeat his parents' mistake. That's why he turned to business. He worked hard to build something for himself. To have as much as possible, so that if he had kids one day he wouldn't turn out the same way as his parents.
He would give his children everything. No matter what it was. No matter how unreasonable. That would surely make things right. It's what love was all about, right?
Hayama never did learn what became of his parents. He never sought them out. At first, it was because he couldn't. But after a few years, after landing work as a mere servant for several of the elite, with the occasional burglary here and there when times were really tough, he still didn't contact them. Even after he was able to land on his feet and get a place of his own, he never bothered to look back. Was it because he was scared? Or ashamed because he ran away? Hayama had never been able to answer that. He just knew that he could never face his parents again. That remained true to this day. Well, if they were even still alive.
You could call that one of the two regrets Hayama had in his life.
What's the other? Maybe he would speak about it later. But not now.
It was a tough road. The road to success was paved in sacrifices. In this world, you had to do many things you weren't particularly proud of in order to get ahead. In some ways, Hayama hated himself for some of the actions he had taken in the past. He was sure he had ruined several lives to get where he had. In order to be number one, you had to destroy others to make sure they didn't beat you.
He had crushed rival businesses. Torn families apart. Had them die over their own grief. Much like the memory of his parents, Hayama never did like to dwell on such things. It only pained him, but surely it was worth it.
Right?
Or maybe that was just the talk of a weak willed man, who had given in to the ways of the world instead of trying to change things. Consolation perhaps, only aimed at himself. It was another thing Hayama wasn't sure of. At the very least, he could say he hadn't enjoyed it. That was all too common in the world he was in. He had seen so many people take pleasure in ruining others.
Hayama had never sunk that low, so maybe there was still hope for him?
Or perhaps it was just more consolation aimed at himself.
Hayama still tried to do as much good as possible. Now that he had the means of course. Now that he was here at the top. It probably wouldn't undo all the evil he'd done in the past, but it was a start.
That's why he had chosen his youngest son, Akira Hiroki, to be his main successor. His name, meaning large sparkle, had truly been fitting. Hayama saw something different in him from his other children. He knew his youngest shared the same spirit as him, albeit one that was even brighter. For he hadn't made the mistakes Hayama had. He hadn't been tainted by the world yet. This had made Hayama wonder sometimes.
If Hiroki had been in his shoes, would he have traveled down a similar path? Would he have compromised his principles to achieve success?
But really, if you were willing to compromise, did you ever believe in those principles in the first place? If you claimed to be righteous but do not so righteous things all for the sake of your dream, were you ever 'virtuous'?
Did the end justify the means? After all, Hayama had managed to help a lot of people with the wealth he had accumulated. Donated to many charities, even started some of his own! Created new jobs. Helped to promote new legislature that would help those struggling. If he had never attained his wealth, he never would have been in a position to do those things. Did all of that justify all the other lives he'd ruined to get to where he was today?
Was compromising the right path after all?
Once again, Hayama didn't have the answers. He just knew he couldn't regret any of it.
But still, all those mistakes didn't come close to his biggest blunder. It was directly tied to his second, and perhaps deeper, regret.
It was the true tragedy of the Akira. After all, it was the whole reason his youngest son had perished. For something so insignificant….no, he couldn't make that assertion. If he did, he would only be belittling everything he had done up to this point. Belittling his life. Regretting it. That was the one thing Hayama would never do. He would never turn his back on his life.
His pride wouldn't allow it.
How very shameful. And disgusting.
But that, along with his other mistakes, would probably be buried tonight. Hayama knew the end was near.
Was it his end? He couldn't say. Or maybe he just was turning a blind eye to it. Trying to remain cheerful even though he knew of the plot closing in around him. He had been doing a lot of that lately.
Yes, shutting his eyes and running away. What a most sensible solution! Ah, perhaps that's what he'd been doing all his life. Whenever something came up that he didn't like, he just shut his eyes and ran away from it. All the evil he caused, all the lives he ruined. His own parents. He never faced those facts head on, but merely tried to cover them up.
Surely that meant he wasn't virtuous, right?
But who was going to judge him? Would Hayama even accept such judgement?
Wait, no. That didn't matter. Not anymore. Just like his youngest son didn't matter anymore.
For the end was here. It was only a matter of how.
"I feel like you are being too reckless about this."
"Yeah, so you and Kirumi have told me. Like a lot. I get the message you're trying to give me."
"Then listen to me-"
"I did. That's why I'm going."
Kyoko couldn't keep the frustration from showing, even if only a little. But she couldn't help it, for the blond before her was truly testing her patience.
Naruto didn't seem to care as he struggled to put his butler uniform back on. It was more difficult than before given his injuries. He could move more easily now, but his right arm was still very much suffering under the burns it sustained. He could move it, but it was painful to do so. He chose to ignore the pain, something Kyoko and Kirumi weren't thrilled about.
But Naruto wasn't budging from his decision. He was going to see this through to the end, especially now that Kyoko had filled him in. Not just about what she found, but her plan as well.
Naruto had to stop himself from snorting when he thought about it. If anyone was being reckless here, it was Kyoko and Kirumi.
"You've already taken enough risks at it is." Kyoko was still trying to dissuade him. The two of them were in the back of the mansion, standing by one of the less-traveled paths. Kirumi had already gone on ahead on her own, much to Naruto's displeasure.
If he was stubborn, so were they.
"Are you really worried about me?" If Naruto was trying to be playful, he would have shot the girl a small grin. But instead, he looked serious. "Or is it that you're worried I'll ruin your whole plan?"
If someone noticed he was injured, it would lead to a mountain of questions that would only cause problems for Kyoko and her plan.
Normally, Kyoko wouldn't care about such an assertion being made against her. It was just like she told Kirumi before. If people wanted to think of her as a cold person, then they were free to do so. Especially since in many ways they would be right.
But hearing it from Naruto made her frown. It just didn't sit well with her, seeing him think so low of her. She still didn't try to correct him, though.
"If that's what you think, then why not listen?"
"Because I'm not exactly thrilled about this plan of yours."
Naruto found a moment of triumph when he was able to get his burnt arm through the sleeve of the dress shirt. But then there was the damn vest and then the bow tie…..
Stupid uniform.
"What does that mean?" Kyoko was more concerned about his comment than his struggle with the uniform. "You were there when I said it. At the moment, we can only-"
"Kirumi volunteered to do it. That's why I didn't say anything against it."
"She can take care of herself."
Or so the young maid claimed. Naruto wasn't doubting her abilities, though.
"If what you said is true, you're sending her straight to the killer."
"Possible killer."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Whatever. She's still in danger."
"We're all in danger," Kyoko stated, her voice hard. "Or did you forget what happened? You've already thwarted the mastermind's plan. Twice. The next move they make will be sure to be a big one."
Yeah, she had already said that.
"Look, I'm not changing my mind." Naruto finished putting on the vest and the bow tie as best he could. "I'm willing to go along with this for now, but I'm not going to just sit back and do nothing."
Naruto saw the girl clenched her fists.
"You're insufferable."
Yep, better get used to that.
"If that's what you want, then you're free to meddle as you like."
Oh?
As he adjusted his bow tie, Naruto smiled. "Thanks."
Kyoko really wanted to slap that smile away.
"Why do you even care to get involved anyway?" she asked him. "If what you told me is true, then you shouldn't care about what happens in this case."
Frowning, Naruto turned toward the mansion. He still thought it was such a waste of space. It really ruined the whole island for him. Which was kind of unfortunate, since the place was beautiful otherwise.
"The old man asked me to. That's why."
His answer didn't satisfy Kyoko. It just made her more baffled. "I don't understand. Why would that matter?"
"He's not a bad guy, Kyoko. I don't think he is. I want to help him."
"To the point that you're willing to throw your life away?"
"To be fair, I've only risked my life for you so far," Naruto was more than happy to point that out.
It was dark, but Naruto still didn't miss the way the girl's cheeks colored a little. But whether it was from the embarrassment of being called out or something else, Naruto didn't know.
He didn't dwell on it and continued. "I don't know what your cases mean to you, but to the old man this is everything. It's his whole family. He's desperate, and I want to help him see that it's still not the end."
Kyoko was beginning to take notice of a very…..problematic trait in the boy. He said he wanted peace in the world. That's what he was willing to fight for. But at the same time, instead of thinking ahead to the future, thinking about his goal and how to achieve it, he tended to narrow his focus on the here and now. It didn't matter if it affected his bigger goal in the future.
That burnt arm of his was all the proof Kyoko needed. He had been willing to sacrifice himself for her. It would have meant the end of his ambition, but he had done it without hesitation.
This was the exact antithesis of how Kyoko acted. It was just detrimental to how she thought. She was always planning ahead, thinking of the future. She was willing to make sacrifices, of course, but ultimately it was for a bigger purpose.
Uzumaki Naruto was most certainly a fool.
But again, Kyoko couldn't condemn him. Not fully. It was the total opposite really. On the surface, she could criticize him as much as she wanted. But deep in her, she was finding herself admiring the boy more and more. She couldn't say she had met someone like him before.
'Is that why he chose him?'
Her father. Kyoko still had so many questions about that, but solving the case came first.
That said, she did want to share one thing with the boy before her plan was put into effect and they parted ways.
"Just so you know….I plan on attending Hope's Peak Academy."
Naruto, who had been ready to head inside the mansion, froze for a moment at Kyoko's admission. He stared at her, like he was studying her. His eyes seemed different from before. It was like they had become more...piercing, as if they were looking deep in her. It was definitely not something Kyoko would say she expected from the blond boy.
He wasn't just a goofy teenager, was he?
"Well, if that's your choice."
That was Naruto's response. Kyoko understood right away. Naruto knew what her motive was for going to Hope's Peak. Even without what he told her, Kyoko had already been planning on attending the school. It's why she made her detective work known, so that she could be scouted as the Ultimate Detective one day.
But before, Kyoko was only doing this so that she could formally end things with her father. To tell him off. To curse him for abandoning her.
Now…..where did she stand?
Kyoko really did not know the answer to that. And it sort of frightened her.
Naruto understood this too, which is why, as he walked past her, he placed a gentle hand on the girl's head.
"You know. There was a time I cursed my parents too. For abandoning me."
Naruto's voice was soft, and his words made Kyoko's heart beat faster. Her eyes widened ever so slightly, bur this didn't bother him.
"I was an orphan, you see. No family to speak of. I had no idea why I was left all alone. And at times, I cursed my parents for it. It felt like they had abandoned me. And for what? For a long time, I couldn't understand."
Kyoko didn't say anything.
"It wasn't until recently that I found out why." Naruto smiled, but it was a bitter one. "Even after I found out, it didn't change what I went through. But I knew it wasn't what they wanted either. They…..had a responsibility. One they couldn't ignore. You see, sometimes, things just don't go how you want them to. I don't hate my parents for what happened. I never have. I was just scared and alone."
That sounded all too familiar to the girl.
"I have no idea what your father did," Naruto said, "and like I said I don't plan on judging you if you do hate him. He might not even have a reason for it. But….you should still hear him out. Just in case he does. You might find that he suffered just as much as you did."
He left the girl with those words. Naruto didn't know what affect they had on Kyoko, as he didn't look back at her. He just faced the mansion, and the mission.
His body was in pain, but he was still ready for what was coming.
Now then. Time to be the best damn butler there was.
Kirumi had already known it was coming. Or, well, that he was coming. Kyoko's plan wouldn't have worked otherwise. And Kirumi's reason for returning to the mansion by herself would have been for nothing.
The second night of partying was well underway in the first floor of the mansion. How they could still eat and drink so much was unknown to Kirumi, but those thoughts left her mind as she was practically dragged back to the dining hall on the second floor by none other than Hasashi.
Kirumi noticed Sae's eyes on her from the first floor as she and Hasashi climbed the stairs to the second floor, but Kirumi simply gave her fellow maid a reassuring nod.
She was going to be alright.
Hasashi was on the verge of exploding as they finally reached the dining hall. He didn't care how much noise he made as he pushed open the doors. The noise downstairs was sure to drown it out anyway.
"You really have a lot of explaining to do, Kirumi."
The young girl didn't flinch, even as she was shoved inside. She probably wouldn't have tolerated this treatment under normal circumstances, but she bore with it.
"Do you wish for my services?" Kirumi kept her voice calm. There was no hint of the anger she might be feeling underneath her normal mask.
With his patience already tested, Hasashi glowered.
"Where have you been all day?"
"Oh, is that what this is about?" Kirumi gave a slight bow. "My apologies. I simply had to run some errands for Akira-sama today. This took longer than I expected, and I only arrived a few minutes ago."
Kirumi knew it wasn't a good bluff, all things considered. However, she liked to think she knew Hasashi well enough to guess that he wouldn't have checked with Hayama about her whereabouts. He didn't show it, but Hasashi knew just how much of a scandal it would be if his feelings toward her were known. Hayama especially would never approve of such an affair.
Not that one was happening mind you, but that was beside the point. It's why Hasashi always made sure to never act like he cared about her in public, or even when around his father.
Unaware of her thoughts, Hasashi pressed her with his next question.
"Oh? And was that stupid looking butler with you?"
Stupid looking-what?
Kirumi's face remained stoic. "If you mean the new employee hired by Akira-sama, then yes. He came with me. It was a good opportunity for him to learn, as he is still new to this field."
Not a total lie.
Her reasoning didn't do much in quelling Hasashi's anger.
"I don't care what your reasons are. You are to stay away from him. Got it?"
It was an unreasonable request, wasn't it? Truth be told, Kirumi wasn't all that shocked to see the man asking something like that of her. No, no. Asking was too kind of a term. More like demanding. Her personal feelings didn't matter to the man. He didn't see her as an equal at all, which wasn't technically wrong of him as she was but a maid. It still didn't sit right with Kirumi.
Not anymore.
Anyway, it wasn't hard for her to see that Hasashi was the jealous type. To an unreasonable degree.
Or maybe, she could just call him possessive? It looped back around to him wanting her to be his personal maid. Just the thought of it was distasteful to the girl. A first for her. As a professional maid, she was trained to serve under anyone. It didn't matter who it was. But after her talk with Naruto, she realized that she could have more freedom in her life. She wouldn't feel guilty about not wanting to serve this man.
"I'm afraid I cannot honor that request."
Once more, Kirumi didn't let her emotions get the better of her. Her voice was still neutral, totally calm. She still behaved like this was but a simple business exchange. Like there was no personal relationship between them, friendly or otherwise.
It did not sit well with Hasashi.
"What did you say?" He moved closer to her. "Are you defying a command from your master?"
"You are not-"
"I am tired of that little excuse of yours." He grabbed her by the wrist. "Once I've been named as the main heir to the Akira, you'll understand why going against me isn't such a good idea."
Disappointment. That's all Hasashi saw in Kirumi's eyes. Right away, he could tell. The girl was judging him.
This…..had never happened before. Without realizing it, Hasashi let go of her wrist and backed away. He didn't know why. He was just so stunned to see something like that from her that his feet moved on their own.
Kirumi was just thankful for the space between them.
"You are very certain of that, are you?"
Trying to get his thoughts in order, Hasashi started to fiddle with the buttons on his suit. "But of course. Who else is there? My so-called sisters only care about fashion and partying. They have no eye for business."
"Neither did your younger brother, but he was said to be Akira-sama's favorite."
Kirumi's words definitely stung Hasashi deep. For the first time since she met him, Kirumi saw vulnerability in the man's eyes. It was as if there was a different person inside, hiding behind all the narcissism and greed. Someone who just wanted to prove themselves to the world.
"My father already made that mistake once." The vulnerability was soon gone, and Hasashi returned to his usual self. "Because of his blunder, he lost a son. He can't let that happen again."
What exactly was Kirumi supposed to say to that? There were many ways she could interpret Hasashi's words, none of which were favorable to the man.
"So it's true then." It was Kirumi who stepped closer to the man this time, acting like a lioness on the hunt. "You were the one who killed your brother."
Was she just bluffing again?
At the very least, Hasashi didn't take her seriously. "Really? Are you going to start spouting that nonsense too? Like that so-called detective? Don't tell me you started believing her. I'm hurt. You know I could never hurt my own family."
Except Kyoko didn't know who the culprit really was. Despite knowing who hired that assassin, she wasn't convinced the case would end there.
That's why Kirumi was here. To find any new perspective, starting with Hasashi.
Why him? Well. The answer was obvious.
Kirumi's silence was starting to get to the man. His eyes turned cold.
"Are you trying to turn your back on me as well, Kirumi?"
As well? Was there some meaning there that she didn't understand?
But before Kirumi could respond, the whole room went dark.
And that's when everything really started to get out of control.
Kyoko didn't know what she was looking for. Hell, she didn't even know if she was right to still to keep the investigation open. After all, she already knew who had hired that second assassin.
Case closed, right? Obviously the person responsible for that was the one who hired the first assassin and subsequently had Hayama's son murdered.
Except no. Kyoko wasn't convinced of that. It was just….a feeling she had. And she always made sure to trust her instincts.
It just didn't make any sense to her. Why, after being so careful for months, would the mastermind leave themselves exposed so easily like that? Desperation, perhaps, but that still didn't sit right with Kyoko. She never underestimated anybody, no matter who they were. Every possibility was to remain open until she had absolute evidence that said otherwise.
'I must have missed something.'
That's all Kyoko could think as she searched Hayama's office. She did her best to put her conversation with Naruto to the side for now. But it was hard, especially when she herself didn't know what she was looking for.
Thankfully sneaking in here had been easier than she expected. Everyone was too busy partying downstairs to take notice of her. It was the perfect cover.
She searched every nook and cranny of the office. Looked through every file on the desk and anything that caught her eye on the massive bookcase. There were many different business transactions just left in the open. Hayama still preferred to use paper copies it seemed. It did make Kyoko's job easier.
Unfortunately, there was nothing in them that helped her. But what was she expecting to find? The mastermind had used the family's joint account for the first assassin. Tracking that would be impossible-
'Wait a moment.'
Kyoko's mind suddenly stopped. She recalled a question she had asked Kirumi on their way over here, during their boat ride. Kyoko had only asked it because she had been frustrated with her lack of conclusive results and hadn't thought much of it. If there was any other benefit to asking it, it was to confirm that Kirumi really was on their side. That was the only justification Kyoko could come up with.
The question had been simple but straightforward.
"Do only Hayama and the other three have access to that joint account?"
That had been Kyoko's question. In the beginning, Kyoko had suspected that maybe a third party could have hijacked it in order to frame the family. It made sense, right? At least it was a better alternative than being killed by a relative. But no such luck. Even Hayama had explained to her that only he and his children could use that account and no one else had access to it.
There were no signs it had been hacked either, so Kyoko had no choice but to let the matter drop.
But as Kirumi had told her, "Typically, yes. However, there are times when I've been given access to that account. For important occasions where I have to act more independently. Like for the band for the party. I made sure to book them using that account. Among other things."
There was something there.
If Kyoko considered this new angle, then what Hayama said to her on the previous night, about possible suspects…..
'Could this be it?'
It took her a few moments, but Kyoko was able to put several factors together.
'It must be. It's what I first considered many months ago.'
However, Kyoko hadn't been able to find any leads concerning that theory. She had looked everywhere, but there was nothing. So she had dismissed it, along with the third party interference. But now, with a possible suspect in mind, she could be more thorough with her search.
'Is that what I missed?'
Kyoko couldn't deny the adrenaline rush her mind was in as she went to look through the employee list one more time. It was last minute, but if what she was thinking was true, then all she needed was the name. After that, it was all about springing the trap.
But just as as she managed to find the name she was looking for, the lights went out in the office.
And the door was burst open.
To be bored and stressed at the same time…..what a combination.
Naruto didn't very much care for it.
There was nothing he could do about it, though, as he found himself mingling with the party guests.
Was this really a party, though? All Naruto saw was people talking about boring stuff. Come to think of it, hadn't Fuyuhiko's party been really similar to this?
'At least then I didn't have to hear any of this.'
There was one man, some kind of fashion designer apparently, going off about the latest clothing line he was planning to release during the fall.
Or something along those lines. Honestly, Naruto sort of tuned him out after the first minute or so.
Not Hayama, though. The man listened intently and even offered some suggestions here and there.
Maybe they were business partners?
Speaking of the man, he hadn't batted an eye when Naruto showed up. The blond could tell Hayama was curious about his absence all day, but he didn't bring it up. He just continued talking with the people around him.
Naruto wasn't interested in these talks, however. Nor was he intending to keep bringing the people here snacks and drinks whenever they asked.
Side note, carrying a tray full of drinks when your arm was badly burnt wasn't a pleasant experience. That's where the "stressed" part was coming from.
No, Naruto was more concerned about getting some one-on-one time with Yozuru or Uzumi. It didn't matter which, but a quick scan of the room told Naruto that neither was here.
That couldn't be good.
But then he was proven wrong when his sleeve was tugged. Looking back, he saw Yozuru pulling him away from Hayama and his click and to one of the corners of the room where she had a small table all setup with her own drinks and everything.
He just had to refill them, as the good butler that he was.
So that's where he was now, still bored as he continued to refill the woman's glass every time she drank it all. And boy did she drink. The more she drank, the more incoherent she became.
Naruto was sure this wasn't healthy.
"You've been drinking a lot tonight."
Yozuru, who had been in the midst of recounting the time she bought a restaurant after the manager had gotten on her nerves, stopped for a moment to grunt. Or was it a snort?
Hard to tell with all the noise.
"Don't say that, butler-kun. I'm a natural drinker! You should have seen how many bottles I drank earlier today!"
Ah, at the "fishing" trip on the yacht.
It only proved Naruto right. "Then maybe you should slow down? Can't have you passing out."
"Afraid to be near an older woman who's drunk? Don't worry. I don't bite."
What?
"You're too kind, butler-kun." Yozuru was already speaking again. "Most people wouldn't bother to take advantage of the situation to get some juicy information outta me. Or maybe more…."
Maybe more? What?
Naruto didn't dwell on that. "Is that why you pulled me over here? To test me?"
He was new, after all. It would make sense if she was trying to see if he was up to anything bad.
Not that he wasn't, per se, but that was beside the point.
This time, Yozuru did snort. "Of course not. I did it cause I'm tired of hearing the same old crap from all these crappy people, and you're good looking. What other reason do I need?"
That…..was not what Naruto had been expecting to hear.
He sort of appreciated the compliment, though.
"You got that rough look to you." Her eyes twinkled for a moment. "That interests me."
Was this one of those scenarios where the cultured woman was attracted to the seemingly "bad boy"?
"Are you in college yet?" She giggled. "I myself only graduated two years ago. So you can't say you've flirted with a college girl. Tough."
Was this really flirting?
Again, Naruto didn't bother to think about it too hard. At least she wasn't tripping over her words.
"Oh, but wait. I shouldn't be saying stuff like that, right? Gotta be proper and whatnot." She sounded bitter now. "But no one's even looking at me! So what would it matter, right? I'm not as important as my older siblings. You think so too, right butler-kun?"
"You're free to act as you like," Naruto replied as he started to refill her glass. "It's a basic freedom I think."
"Then you'd be totally wrong about that!" Yozuru looked down, the drink in her hand all but forgotten. "It's always about the social status around here. People are always trying to put on an act. Even my siblings are like that! Do you know Uzumi? She's always dragging me along with her! I can't stand it."
Hmm.
"Well, I suppose it's different for her." Leaning back in her chair, Yozuru let out a smile that seemed to come off as resenting or bitter, not joyful in the slightest. Her eyes further proved this. "She and my brother are the older ones you see. To them, preserving the legacy of our family name is everything. That's why they're so eager to become the heirs. They think they can continue where father left off."
"They seem more concern with partying than running a business," Naruto commented, sounding laid-back.
"Do they?"
Naruto would have shrugged, but he chose not to.
"Well, they had all but given up really. Did you know? Our youngest brother was going to be announced as the heir during this party. Before he was killed."
She didn't sound very remorseful about that fact. Just. Detached. Uncaring.
Alcohol had a way of bringing out a person's true feelings.
"He was father's favorite. Very different from Uzumi and Hasashi."
"But not from you?"
Yozuru laughed. "I consider myself different too, from them I mean. But not in the same light as my younger brother. I guess I'm just a different kind of disappointment."
Disappointment?
"That's how father sees us anyway. He thinks we don't notice it, but we do." Yozuru glanced to her drink. "Hasashi especially takes it to heart. He's always wanted to be father's favorite. To earn his approval, but he's never gotten it. I wonder whose fault that is."
What did she mean?
"Tell me, butler-kun. If a shark is raised to be a shark, is it really his fault for being one? Or should he try to be something else?"
Oh.
"You're saying your father is to blame for how your siblings are?"
Is that what she was getting at?
"Maybe." She started to giggle again. "I don't know. Maybe I'm really drunk. Especially since I'm talking to you about all this. Promise you won't tell anyone?"
Naruto didn't need to make such a promise.
"Is that why you're all partying?" His eyes went over to Hayama who was in the midst of another conversation. "You don't care that your brother died?"
"You would think that, right?" Yozuru finally took another sip from her drink. She didn't drink it all down in one go like before, though, instead choosing to savor the taste. "But you know, butler-kun, there are different reasons for why people drink. It isn't always out of celebration. Guilt is another reason."
Once again, it was hard for Naruto to decide in what manner he should react to what he was hearing.
Was she trying to say that she felt guilty? Naruto could only think of one reason as to why she would feel that way. But then that would mean…..
'Was Kyoko wrong then?'
As Naruto thought this, chaos descended on the party.
All the lights went off without warning, which wasn't bad enough on its own as the party guests were sensible enough to remain calm up to that point.
But when the main doors of the mansion were kicked open and the bullets came, terror spread.
Yozuru didn't scream, however. No. Out of the corner of his eyes, Naruto saw her smiling. It wasn't the smile of a happy person, or of someone who got what they wanted.
It was just a lonely smile.
The dark didn't scare Kyoko.
Sure, the sudden blackout caught her off guard. As it would anyone else. But she had been in worse situations before. Plus, it wasn't completely dark. The moonlight was able to seep through the windows, however faint it might be. She was more vexed than anything else about this turn of events, as now she wouldn't be able to read the employee file.
That said, she did admit to feeling surprised when she saw that it was Uzumi who stood in the doorway of the office. Hasashi had been a more likely suspect in her mind.
"You have no business being here." The spite was clear in Uzumi's voice, but Kyoko didn't react to it. The girl already knew Uzumi didn't like her.
"I'm on official business." Kyoko responded in the same manner as always. But while she remained calm and collected on the outside, inside she was already questioning many things.
"This is father's office." Uzumi stomped inside the office and got in between Kyoko and the desk where all the files were. "I don't care if you are a detective. You don't have any right to trespass."
Kyoko didn't answer. There was no reason to argue over something so petty. If she needed permission, then it was only a matter of asking Hayama about it.
Deep down, Uzumi knew this too. Her act was just that. An act.
And knowing this only pissed her off more.
"You really do think you know everything, don't you? Always so sure of yourself."
Crossing her arms, Kyoko made to walk out of the office without another word. However, at that moment, she heard the sound of gunfire. And it was coming from downstairs.
Kyoko was now on full alert, but unlike her Uzumi didn't react to the noise.
This only confirmed Kyoko's fears, and the new theory she had started to create.
Well, that theory was now about to become a reality it seemed.
"It was never supposed to be like this." Right away, Kyoko noticed something in the woman's hands. "You were already supposed to have died. Why didn't you just die? Because of you, it had to come to this."
Kyoko schooled her futures as Uzumi pointed the knife at her.
"I never wanted to do this, but I guess it can't be helped now." Uzumi's eyes flashed with anger. "You won't be leaving this island alive. I won't let you ruin my brother's sacrifice."
So it was like that, huh.
The next move had been made, and it was as direct as Kyoko had guessed it would be.
But there was no turning back now. The curtain was about to fall on the Akira family.
So there was a wave of Guest reviews recently. Lots of specific requests were made. Like, very specific. Very interesting. Don't know if the same person made them or not. But...interesting nonetheless.
Some stuff was skipped for the suspense. But all the relevant information has been revealed, except for the motive…..sorta. So the investigative work isn't done yet. Hope Kyoko can figure that out and not get stabbed.
Who's the real culprit?
I'm hesitant to say this given my track record, but the next chapter is the last of this arc…? Maybe?
Let's hope.
Not much else to say. Thanks for the reviews!
Till next time.
