A/N: Just watched the Toji No Miko OVA and hnnnngh! Kohime is so cuuuuutttteeee! Also, so happy that Kanami and Hiyori were in it too.
I just finished the plotline for my sixth fanfic of the Toji No Miko murder mystery series, so I will start that right after I finish this one.
Anyway, here's Chapter 2!
Chapter 2: A Plea For Help
The left of Hiyori's body was warm due to the heat coming from Kanami sleeping beside her. Ever since the Minoseki Toji and the rest of her family moved into the Origami Family Estate, the lovebirds' midnight rendezvouses were rare. Before, the Elite Guards were the only people to be cautious about when they'd do their late-night rounds. But after living at the mansion for so long, Hiyori literally knew their schedules off the top of her head. However, now she and Kanami had to be wary of the possibility of Inspector Etou making a trip down to the servants' quarters for a late-night snack. And also considering how Akane moved back into her original bedroom with her husband—which was only a few steps away from Hiyori's own respective room—the two Tojis had to be extra careful when...love-making.
'It's ironic how Kanami now uses the same secret tunnel President Souraku would use when sneaking into Origami Yukari's room,' Hiyori thought, as she sipped her coffee.
At present, she was sitting up in bed reading The Daily Toji Tribune as she would every morning. Kanami let out a light snore, before wrapping her arms around her raven-haired lover's waist.
"Hiyori-chan, let's get married."
The Origami Head nearly spat out her coffee. She cursed at how she accidentally got a few drops of the brown liquid on her bedsheets. With a glare, Hiyori looked at Kanami.
'Talking in your sleep, huh, Kanami? That's new.'
Turning her attention back to her newspaper, Hiyori's frown deepened at the article in the gossip section:
ETOU KANAMI AS POSSIBLE FUTURE HEAD CONSORT?!
New Special Sword Private Investigator-In-Training, Etou Kanami, was spotted last Saturday with the Head of the Origami Family, Juujou Hiyori. Rumours speculate about a secret romance between the two Tojis and...
Letting out an annoyed sigh, Hiyori folded up the newspaper before tossing it on the nightstand. The media was seriously starting to get hot on her trail. Was it worth keeping her relationship with Kanami a secret now? Kaoru, in particular, exaggeratingly told her on multiple occasions that their love was so clear to see even a blind person would be able to tell. And now with Akane pregnant with a baby girl, there was no longer any need nor pressure for Hiyori to give birth to an heiress. She was now free to marry whomever she chose in the future.
Looking down at Kanami beside her, Hiyori gently brushed a lock of brown hair from the sleeping girl's face. A line of drool was coming from the corner of Kanami's lips.
Hiyori smirked. 'Maybe it's time to tell the world after all.'
The peacefulness in the silence was disturbed by a cute quirky ringtone. "Kanami, your phone's ringing."
With a groan, the Minoseki Toji rolled over and looked at the screen of her cellular device. Her grogginess was gone in an instant once she saw the familiar name.
Sitting up, Kanami said cheerfully, "Hey, Mai-chan. What's up?"
Hiyori knew something was wrong once she saw the smile of her lover drop. "Wait, Mai-chan—what happened?!"
Sergeant Tanaka whistled at the sight of the superyacht before him. It was certainly worth a pretty penny from the looks of it. Emblazoned in gold letters on her bow was the name, The Royal Diana. Mounting up the small gangway, the sergeant got on board to where his colleague, Inspector Etou, was. On the floor of the deck, half-covered with a white sheet, was a girl that must've once looked beautiful.
"Yanase Chisaki. Seventeen years of age and a third-year high-school Toji at Renpu Girls' School," Inspector Etou said to his colleague.
"Poor lass," Sergeant Tanaka said, shaking his head.
The medical examiner, who was bending over the body, got up from his knees and took off his glasses with a short exhale. "There is an indication of damage to the head. Looks as though someone bashed her skull before pushing her into the water. I'd say it was the blow that killed her and not drowning."
"Someone clearly wanted to make sure they got the job done," Inspector Etou said. "Anything else?"
"Yes, see here?" The medical examiner pulled back the white sheet a little and pointed to the corpse's arms. "Indications of bruising on the arms which might be from the killer or maybe even domestic violence, due to the bruises being the size of a fist. No sign of the body hitting the propellors. That makes sense since her dress was caught under the keel. And I would say that the time of death was probably between 12:30 and 1:00."
Inspector Etou gave a "hm" before spotting two figures on the dock walking towards The Royal Diana. Despite them being dressed in casual civilian clothes, he instantly recognized them. The inspector hoped that Superintendent Mizobata, who was on the dock with a few of his men, would refuse them to pass. However, the chief police officer bowed with respect to the two girls and that alone made Inspector Etou let out a groan.
"Oh, good God. Here we go again..."
The sound of running feet came along the deck of the vessel and Inspector Etou turned to see Mai hurrying over to greet them. "Kanami-chan! Hiyori-chan!"
Her mouth breaking into a grin just as wide, Kanami bounded up the gangway with Hiyori close behind her. "We came as soon as we could, Mai-chan!"
"Are you alright?" Hiyori asked, placing a hand on the Yanase heiress's shoulder. "An occurrence such as this must be emotionally difficult for you."
The purple-haired girl nodded before giving a sniff. "It was an awful shock, but I've slightly recovered now. I'm so grateful that you two came."
"Why are you two here anyway?" came a gruff voice from behind.
The three Tojis turned to see Inspector Etou walking towards them with a storm cloud over his head. However, the need to answer his demanding inquiry had vanished once Sergeant Tanaka gave the inspector a hearty slap on the back.
"Come on, Etou! Your daughter is now a private investigator-in-training. She needs this work experience," the sergeant said, then in a lowered voice, "Not as though she didn't have any before..."
"If you'll forgive me, I asked them to come, sir," Mai apologized, with a bow. "I know that Kanami-chan and Hiyori-chan can solve the mystery of my cousin's death."
Unwilling to give in so easily, Inspector Etou protested, "The police can do that just fine—"
But Mai had already tightly clasped the hands of Kanami and Hiyori in her own, holding them to her chest. "You'll help, won't you? I know of your keen intuition and insight, Kanami-chan, and your eidetic memory, Hiyori-chan. You are both the best detectives I and the rest of Japan know."
This remark was like a slap in the face to Inspector Etou. He stood there, his mouth half-open, frozen and unable to move like a statue at the scene unfolding before him.
"Of course, we'll help, Mai-chan," Kanami promised.
"We'll do whatever it takes to bring your older cousin's killer to justice," Hiyori added, with just as much resolve.
The Yanase heiress, in her immense alleviation, swept her two friends into a hug. She had entire faith in their support and knew that they'd put their best efforts into the case. It wasn't as though Mai didn't trust the law enforcement officers—she did. But the police didn't have to tell her directly for her to know that her parents were suspects. Mai couldn't bear to think about what might happen if either her father or her mother was falsely accused. And what about Miu and Shiori? How would she be able to break the news to her dear sisters if their parents were arrested? The fear of her entire family's uncertain future had weighed on Mai for the rest of the night after her cousin's body was pulled from the water. And now, Kanami and Hiyori were the only people she could turn to.
"I knew that I could count on you two," Mai whispered with tears of gratitude in her eyes.
"If you'll excuse me, Yanase-sama, is there a place where we can talk to you in private?" Inspector Etou coughed. "We just need to ask you a few questions."
"Of course."
The purple-haired Toji showed the four investigators into her own private sleeping quarters. It was a comfortable bedroom with personal touches that showed off the occupant's preference for anything pink and pretty. Mai gestured to the sitting area and they all sat down.
"We've already asked your parents who were on board. But I'd just like you to confirm the passenger list," Inspector Etou said.
Mai nodded. "Well, there were my parents and I. Then, Uncle Kentaro and Chisaki—they represent the Yanase Insurance Corporation. And we also invited Yukimura Rina and her son, Kaito. Their family owns a big company called Yukimura Health Insurance. Kaito, I should add, was Chisaki's fiancé."
Inspector Etou, who was looking at his notes, raised his head. "Oh, was he?"
The Yanase heiress continued, "Yes. And then there's Chen Rui Qin, who came all the way from Shanghai. She's the CEO of Royal Chen Finances. And last but not least, there's Moreau Louis and his new wife, Ichika. They married only a few days ago. He, I've heard, comes from France and his business, Moreau Entertainment Industries is international and has a lot of firms in different countries."
"Impressive," Sergeant Tanaka murmured under his breath.
'I'm sure some of them own a good ol' boat like this one—if not more,' he secretly thought, with the slightest hint of jealousy.
"When had you last seen the victim?" Inspector Etou asked.
"I chatted with Chisaki until midnight. I hadn't seen her since."
"And what were you doing from half past midnight till one o'clock?"
"I was talking with Kaito the entire time at the swimming pool," was the reply.
Hiyori, who had a hand on her chin, creased her eyebrows. "How did this Yukimura Kaito seem?"
"Out of sorts and grumpy," Mai said. She seemed to hesitate before adding, "He made a rather shocking declaration to me. That he hated her and someday 'she would get it' from him."
Her words caught everyone's attention. Her cheeks turning pink, Mai continued with her account. At around 1:00, her uncle asked where Chisaki was and the two of them went to the bridge to tell Captain Itogawa to stop the vessel. It wasn't until they had just left to look for Chisaki that Mai saw her in the water.
"Was there anything else that may have been strange that you witnessed?" Kanami asked.
Mai said, "Well, it wasn't something I witnessed, but it's strange nevertheless. Uncle Kentaro said that Chisaki's phone is missing. Her purse is still in her room, but not her phone. We searched everywhere for it. Uncle Kentaro and I think it may have been thrown into the water, along with her."
Snapping his notepad closed, Inspector Etou said, "Right then. That phone may be a clue for us if someone did indeed want to get rid of it. Tanaka, call the police station. I want as many hands-on-deck searching for that cellular device. If we're lucky and it was switched off, we might get something—hopefully."
A/N: Enlisted by Mai to help with the case, what waits ahead for Kanamin and Hiyoyon?