A/N: My boyfriend gave me chocolates the other day and they didn't even last for a day because my dad ate most of them when he came over to visit! *sigh* Knew that I should have hidden them better.
Chapter 4: Yanase Kentaro
They found Kentaro in his designated room onboard the yacht. The first thing Kanami nearly did was fall due to stepping on an empty beer bottle. A multitude of them was scattered everywhere—on the bed, the table, and all over the floor. In the air was the foul smell of vomit that made everyone's noses wrinkle in disgust. Gingerly, the four investigators veered around the mess to where Kentaro was conked out on the couch.
He looked nothing like the professional businessman they imagined him to be. Yanase Kentaro was an individual with a messy mop of grey hair and stubble on his chin. His suit jacket and shoes were tossed on opposite sides of the room, and his shirt was half unbuttoned, giving everyone a full view of his hairy chest.
Inspector Etou coughed, "Kentaro-sama."
Kentaro was still dead to the world. A guttural snore came from his throat, sounding more as if it belonged to an animal. With a sigh, Hiyori went over and gave him a small shove. This time, Kentaro's eyes opened.
"Who are you?" he barked, slurring slightly.
"Strange that you don't recognize me," Hiyori replied, arching an eyebrow.
With his vision fully cleared, Kentaro's attention jumped to full-alert once he realized just who he was in front. "H-Hiyori-sama..."
Not wasting a second, Inspector Etou whipped out his badge and said, "I'm Inspector Etou, the Special Sword Private Investigator, of the Kamakura Police Station. And this is my colleague, Sergeant Tanaka, and my daughter, Kanami."
"Oh yes. The great Toji detective..." Kentaro growled softly.
He stumbled over to the mini-fridge in his room, not caring about how he stepped in some bile along the way. Snatching out another beer bottle, the businessman broke off the lid before collapsing back onto the couch.
"Sir, is this really the time?" Inspector Etou sighed.
After chugging down a gulp, Kentaro answered, "My daughter is dead and I don't have any other children to succeed my company anymore. You can at least allow me this one indulgence."
The four investigators silently decided it best to not argue on the matter. Besides, without a clear mind, certain information could be easily slipped out of one's mouth without one fully realizing it. Carefully, the four investigators tried to find clean spots for them to sit down on.
"We are sorry for your loss, Kentaro-sama," Inspector Etou began. "Now, I know this evidently difficult for you, but we need to go through some routine questions."
Kentaro waved an apathetic hand as a signal. Pulling out his notepad, Sergeant Tanaka asked the businessman the first question.
"When did you notice that your daughter was missing?"
"After I realized she was not with Mai like I thought. She and Mai always talk whenever the whole Yanase Family gets together. They're like two peas in a pod," Kentaro said, taking another swig of his beer.
Enjoying the fire-like feeling in his throat, he continued, "Mai and I went to look for her...and that's when we discovered her in the water."
"When did you last see Chisaki-sama?" Inspector Etou asked.
The businessman shrugged. "Maybe close to half past midnight. She was arguing at the stern with her boyfriend, Kaito. Well, I say boyfriend, but really, he's her fiancé."
Kanami leaned closer a little. "They were arguing? About what?"
Kentaro seemed angry at being asked about it. His face was so altered that Inspector Etou was concerned that in his half-drunken state, he might fling himself upon Kanami. However, the businessman did not even get up from the couch.
"I don't know," Kentaro spat. "But I certainly gave Kaito a piece of my mind afterwards."
"What kind of relationship did they have?" Inspector Etou asked. "Did they argue constantly?"
"No. I would say their feelings for each other were rather indifferent," Kentaro said. "Their marriage is essential in any case. My company has become nearly bankrupt due to the recent coronavirus pandemic. And so, Yukimura Rina—that's Kaito's mother—agreed to the union in exchange for buying my company."
"Other than Yukimura Kaito, was there anyone else she had a dispute with?" Hiyori questioned.
Kentaro said, "No. She was a jolly girl—jollier than I would have liked as it made her gullible and uncontrollable sometimes. But she made people happy."
He paused looking at them with dark narrowed eyes, before adding, "She was a bit of a double-dipper though."
Kanami pounced upon the statement like a feline. "Can you explain more on that?"
"Well, she was not someone who would steal it that's what you're thinking. She would just ask me for money saying it was for a school field trip or some other thing," Kentaro grumbled. "So, I'd just transfer the cash to her account. Only thing is that she would ask for more than was required and use it to go to clubs for partying."
The now-empty beer bottle dangling drunkenly from his fingers, the businessman added, "Chisaki got that from her mother. That bitch only used my money for gambling."
Slowly, bit-by-bit, the story of Chisaki's life was being put together in front of the four investigators. And it seemed deception and money matters played a big part in it.
"Can you think of anyone who would have wanted to kill your daughter?" Inspector Etou asked.
Without hesitation, Kentaro cackled, "Probably my brother or sister-in-law."
"Mai-chan's parents?" Kanami exclaimed.
"Well, if I should drop down dead now, everything would go to them. Chisaki was my heiress, but she's gone now. And as for her mother, Momoko, we divorced two years ago—and no way in Hell am I ever giving her a single yen coin!"
Inspector Etou said, "I see. May I ask your whereabouts between half past midnight and one o'clock?"
The businessman gave a sardonic smile. "Got it in your head that I killed my own daughter? Why would I want to ruin my business prospects?"
"It's just routine, Kentaro-sama. If you please."
"Fine," came the irritated growl. "Well, as I said earlier, at 12:30, I saw Chisaki and Kaito arguing. I broke up the fight and after taking it out on Kaito, I went to the bar and talked with Takanori. That would've been maybe around 12:35-ish. Then, about ten minutes after that, the drinks ran out, so I left to get more below deck."
Kanami interrupted, "There are no other places around the vessel to get more drinks? You have a mini-fridge here."
"No," the businessman answered. "The mini fridges only have beers and sakes. The drinks that the bar had were of more variety. And Takanori and I had been knocking back a bottle of whiskey."
"Sorry for the interruption. Please continue, Kentaro-sama."
"I returned to the bar at around 12:50 with my load and left right after to find Chisaki. When I couldn't find her, I went to the stern to where Mai was with Kaito. We decided to go to the bridge so the captain could stop the superyacht for the search. And you know the rest. Now, can I drink in peace?"
Scribbling down the last of his notes, Inspector Etou looked over to see if his colleague was likewise done. "Got everything, Tanaka?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then, I think that's all for now. Thank you for your time, Kentaro-sama. Once again, we are sorry for your daughter's passing."
"Just go away."
There was no more point in staying. Once again hopping over the disarray on the floor, the four investigators exited Kentaro's room, closing the door softly behind him.
"Well, what do we all think of him?" Sergeant Tanaka asked, doubtfully.
Hiyori adjusted her blazer with raised eyebrows. "He has given us nothing that can point to how Yanase Chisaki got murdered last night. He hasn't seen nor heard anything. He knows nothing—period."
"Kentaro-sama has given some pointers though in terms of possible motives," Kanami said. "If she was indeed a double-dipper—and perhaps stuck her fingers in other people's wallets too—she'd have made a lot of enemies, wouldn't she?"
Inspector Etou nodded. "And this other thing about Yanase Mai's parents being the next inheritors of Kentaro-sama's property—that also suggests something."
Kanami and Hiyori were now disturbed. It wasn't until now that they realized why Mai was so anxious for their help. But if one of her parents was indeed the killer? Kanami and Hiyori worried how they'd be able to face her if they were forced to send either Takanori or Touko to the noose.
Unaware of the growing anxiety of the two Tojis, Inspector Etou looked through his list of passengers. "Alright, we've talked with Yanase Mai and her uncle, Yanase Kentaro. There are still a bunch of other suspects we got to go through and question. How about we split up the work?"
His suggestion was met with no objection. "Okay then. Tanaka, you can partner with Hiyori-sama and question Yanase Mai's parents, Yukimura Rina, and Louis Moreau. Kanami, you and I will take on the rest."
A/N: In the next chapter, Hiyori and Sergeant Tanaka will question Yanase Takanori and Touko. See you then!