A/N: Yesterday was my boyfriend's birthday, but because everyone kept getting sick, only two other guys and I showed up at his place. So, I was the only girl. Lol. We ended up playing more than forty rounds of Coup for half of the evening—by the end of it, I was all Coup-ed out. Lmao.

Chapter 5: Yanase Takanori And Touko

When Hiyori and Sergeant Tanaka approached the bedroom of The Royal Diana's owners, they found the mahogany double doors shut. Unlike the other rooms of the superyacht, Yanase Takanori and Touko's sleeping quarters were clearly off-limits to anyone. In her mind, Hiyori wondered if this was more than just because of a want for privacy. She had seen Takanori before during a few business conferences and he had struck her as a man of truculent disposition. She had not liked how domineering he was with the rest of the meeting attendees.

"This may be awkward," Hiyori began, squaring her shoulders. "Perhaps I should speak with them first."

Unused to being amongst such an elite society, Sergeant Tanaka was grateful at being saved from discomfort. "Maybe you should."

With a deep breath, Hiyori knocked firmly. No voice answered in response that at first, the two investigators wondered if the room was empty. However, a few seconds later, the formidable body of Takanori stepped out, shutting the door quickly behind him. He was a man with well-groomed brown hair and slightly tanned skin. But the stern expression in his eyes seemed to drop the temperature at least a few degrees around them.

"Yanase Takanori, please forgive our interruption," Hiyori said, with a bow.

Even though Hiyori was of a higher social rank than him, Takanori did not seem to like how she addressed him without any sort of honorific. Despite his lack of friendliness, the businessman had enough sense to bow in response to his superior.

"Hiyori-sama, it is a pleasure to see you again," Takanori greeted.

Having not been easily fooled due to the tone of his voice, Hiyori tried to hide a knowing smirk. To tell the truth, Takanori was inordinately jealous of the young Origami Head. For years, the Yanase businessman was the unsaid leader that many large companies looked up to because of his fast success.

At least, that was until Hiyori came into power. From the few encounters he had with her, Takanori quickly noticed Hiyori to be an individual who preferred peaceful resolutions. With her good judgement of frugality and quick thinking, she helped other corporations improve and thrive, rather than try to purchase them and gain control. As a result, almost immediately, it became apparent amongst everyone in the business world that Hiyori was a much stronger leader than him, and not because she was severe on others, but because she never was.

Trying to ignore the irritating fact, Takanori's eyes coldly summed up the portly man beside Hiyori. "And you are?"

"Sergeant Tanaka, sir," the sergeant said, with a tip of his hat.

"What do you want?" Takanori demanded.

"We wish to ask you and your wife a few questions," Hiyori answered.

Becoming defensive at once, Takanori said, "I am afraid my wife is in no condition to talk with anyone at the moment. She had to be sedated from the shock of the news and is now recovering in bed. She has always been mentally ill."

"Is she asleep, sir?" Sergeant Tanaka boldly asked.

The Yanase businessman frowned, as though he regarded it an impertinence being addressed to by the sergeant. "She was until you awoke her with your damned knocking."

"I apologize, Yanase Takanori. That was my doing," Hiyori said, trying her best to shield Sergeant Tanaka from the matter. "However, it is imperative that we question everyone aboard this vessel. Please may we just have one little word with your wife? It is merely a procedure of routine we must do."

"That is quite unnecessary," came the sharp voice.

Hiyori's lips pressed together in a straight line. It was clear that her usual choice of tactic would not work on a man unwilling to even listen to her. So, for the first time, Hiyori took on an aggressive stance.

"Okay then. We can have this discussion down at the Kamakura Police Station," she said.

"Oh fine! Have it your way," Takanori growled. "But if you dare terrify my wife's nerves, I'll make you regret it."

"Are you threatening the Head of the Origami Family, sir?" Sergeant Tanaka asked, rather coolly himself.

Having opened his mouth to deliver a snappish rebuttal, Takanori shut it fast, reluctantly admitting defeat. The two investigators were grudgingly allowed to enter, where they found Touko lying in bed. One look at her and it was clear that she was indeed ill. Her purple hair, which was normally tied in a bun, was hanging loose and limp across her shoulders, and her skin was a pale green. Nevertheless, Touko's eyes brightened at the sight of Hiyori.

"Hiyori-sama, it is wonderful to see you again!" She held out her hand and Hiyori took it in hers, sitting close beside the bed. "You know, Mai and I really wished for you to come and visit us. But unfortunately, Takanori thought you would be too busy. He said it would not do to be a disturbance to you."

'More like he just did not want me to come at all,' Hiyori thought.

"I am likewise happy to see you, Yanase Touko," the ebony-haired girl said. "Do tell me that you are alright."

"My head hurts just a little, but it is no trivial matter. For something like Chisaki's death to have happened..." At this point, Touko's voice began to fade away and a dull look came to her eyes.

Observing this, Takanori turned to Sergeant Tanaka. "Ask your questions now. My wife needs her rest quickly."

"Oh darling, don't be hostile to them. They are just doing their duty," Touko admonished.

"Could you please tell us your movements last night from 12:30 to 1:00? We need to account for everyone on this vessel," the sergeant said, taking out his notepad and pen.

"I went to bed at 12:15," said Touko, right away. "I slept throughout the whole time until I was told the news."

"And you, Yanase Takanori?" Hiyori demanded.

Even though the Origami Head had a poker-face, her burgundy eyes made Takanori uncomfortable. Raising his chin slightly, he replied, "I went to speak to the captain at 12:30 because I wanted to know our whereabouts on the water. Then I went to the bar area. About five minutes later, my brother joined me and we talked a bit. The drinks ran out ten minutes later and Kentaro left to get more. I think it was at 12:50 he came back with them, but he left right after. I heard the commotion at around 1:00 and ran to the top deck, getting to the scene. It was then that I helped my brother bring Chisaki back on board."

Her husband's mention of the dead girl seemed to make Touko go faint. Her chest heaved erratically and at the moment, it looked as though she was struggling to breathe. Takanori raced to her side, but Hiyori, being right beside the ailing woman, was quicker.

"Breathe in and out slowly, Yanase Touko. Concentrate only on your breathing, okay?"

The Yanase woman nodded her head weakly, clutching onto Hiyori's hand like a lifeline. Hiyori and Sergeant Tanaka allowed Touko to calm down first, before saying anything else that might threaten the health of her mentality.

After ten slow breaths, Touko said, "It's okay. I'm calm now."

"Are you sure?" Hiyori asked, full of concern. "Do you need anything? Water, perhaps?"

"No. I-I am quite a-alright. I just need to close my eyes."

"Very well. We will not bother you any longer," Hiyori said.

"No, not at all. It was so lovely to see you, Hiyori-sama. You will visit one day, I hope?"

Prepared to give a negative answer, Takanori was beaten by Hiyori who replied with a yes. A vein popped on the Yanase businessman's forehead. He wasted no time in ushering Hiyori and Sergeant Tanaka out of the room. However, just before Takanori was about to shut the door in their faces, Hiyori said something rather unexpected.

"We understand that now you are the legal inheritor of everything in your brother's property."

Her seemingly casual statement was quick to grasp Takanori's attention. He stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

"Well, Chisaki was my brother's heiress," the Yanase businessman said, stiffly.

"But now that she's dead, everything will go to you," Hiyori said.

"So, what of it?" Takanori demanded.

"Just mentioning it."

Sergeant Tanaka wisely remained silent, during this exchange. A cold tension was between the two wealthy proprietors, as they locked eyes in a dead stare.

Hiyori said, "Unless I am getting things mixed up—which is rare as I have eidetic memory—your business has been having trouble recruiting new employees, Yanase Takanori."

"Haven't we all been going through business problems since this COVID-19 shit?" was the reply.

Normally, Takanori was not one to swear, especially in front of important political figures, but this time, his anger got the best of him. He did not like how Hiyori kept a straight face.

"Are you and your brother planning to merge companies then? Such a strategy would be a wise decision, in my opinion," Hiyori said. "It would cut spending for him, and he certainly still has enough employees that could instead work for you. Win-win, no?"

Takanori made no reply to this. Not because she was wrong, but because she was absolutely right.

'Why hadn't I thought of this before?' the Yanase businessman internally exclaimed.

To his annoyance, he was starting to understand why so many entrepreneurs were fond of the Origami Head. The very girl he envied for her shrewdness had just opened up a new possibility with it that had the potential to save his company along with his brother's. Even though Takanori and Hiyori did not see eye to eye with each other, Hiyori was still willing to offer her suggestions, in the hopes of aiding him. It suggested to Takanori that she was not cruel enough to let his business fail. She even helped his wife recover during her panic attack. And despite his dislike of her, Takanori felt a small sense of respect towards Hiyori for her actions.

"I will think about it," Takanori said, at last. "Um, thank you."

And with that, he walked back into the bedroom, closing the double doors behind him once more.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next one will be Kanami and Inspector Etou questioning Chen Rui Qin.