A/N: Weather is starting to get warmer. Cherry blossom petals are starting to fall in my city, which annoyingly keep getting stuck to the bottom of my shoes. Hopefully, this summer won't be blazing hot (which it most likely will) because I dread having to do my online courses in an oven for a house. School starts tomorrow, which I'm mildly excited about.

Chapter 17: A Scene At Dinner

Dinner that night was exceedingly handsome; the wine was perfect and the food excellent. Three servants, moving wordlessly in formation, kept bringing in course after course, each one beautifully arranged. Never before had Kanami and Hiyori seen dishes so intricately made, not even amongst the finest delicacies of kaiseki ryori. Tender wagyu beef—which Hiyori guessed must've cost at least 200,000 yen—was drenched in a creamy sauce and lined with rolls. In addition to this were fruit and vegetables in the shape of flowers, iced puddings, and interestingly enough, a roasted bird that Kanami thought to be a peacock or pheasant. Every kind of luxury food one could possibly imagine was being readily eaten by Akane and the five presidents.

Inspector Etou and Sergeant Tanaka had also been graciously invited to join, which neither complained to. The sergeant, in particular, was having the time of his life. He did justice to each dish, praising them with delighted alacrity. Sergeant Tanaka was the kind of man whose spirits rose in proportion to the amount he ate, explaining to everyone the size of his potbelly without saying.

Watching everyone stuff their faces on such gourmet food, while she herself had to stand by with Hiyori and the Elite Guards, was pure torture for Kanami! The Minoseki Toji tried not to enviously glare at the back of her father's head for taking advantage of enjoying such a delicious opportunity without her.

On the edge of intoxication from how much wine she drank, Sana giggled, "I hope if Juujou Hiyori indeed accepts her new title that she'll keep inviting us for the delicious food."

"Seriously, Sana-chan..." Iroha sighed, shaking her head.

"This meat is undercooked!" came a snappish voice at the other end of the table.

Nobody bothered turning their heads towards Yukina, as she showed her beef with atrocity to one of the servants. The poor young man kept bowing low repeatedly, apologizing non-stop so fast that his words almost came out as gibberish.

"Get that cook of yours to make another one," Yukina said. "And get it right this time!"

Her burgundy eyes fixed steadily on the Renpu president, Hiyori felt herself growing rather hot. She had never liked the purple-haired woman at all. But seeing how terribly Yukina treated the help, along with how she was wasting food, Hiyori couldn't help seething in anger. The selfish woman had absolutely no regard for those who couldn't even get three meals a day! And as a girl who had always lived a simple life, the Heijou Toji's eyes saw Yukina as a spoiled despicable thing.

Trying hard to be amiable to the woman he was, unfortunately, sitting next to, Sergeant Tanaka asked, "Some more wine, President Takatsu?"

Yukina handed him her glass without so much as a "thank you". She only took one sip before making a face.

"For God's sake, why does everything taste foul today?" she complained.

Ema retorted, "If you want your food made a certain way, Yukina, you could always make it yourself, you know."

Ignoring the quarrel that was starting to ensue, the sergeant then turned to the woman on his right. "Some wine for you, President Souraku?"

"No, thank you," came the nonchalant reply. "I don't drink. Upsets my liver badly."

With a sympathetic glance towards his colleague, Inspector Etou couldn't help feeling sorry about the seating arrangements for Sergeant Tanaka. One woman was sharp-tongued and the other serious and blunt. The inspector tried to lighten the mood by speaking to the servants.

"Send my compliments to Kobayashi-san, the cook. The food is very enjoyable."

One of the servants bowed. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Akane addressed the inspector and sergeant, "Could I see to having two rooms made up for you gentlemen?"

"Yes, on one request," Inspector Etou said. "I'd like both of our rooms on opposite ends of the hallway where the guest bedrooms are, if you please."

The younger Origami sister stared, before saying, "Of course. I'll let the maids know and they'll be ready for tonight."

Leaning closer to her, Inspector Etou murmured, "Thank you. And may I ask for a little consultation?"

Sensing the privacy of what he was about to tell her, Akane nodded with serious eyes. The inspector pulled out a crude drawing of a map of the mansion.

He said, "I've drawn and written down where every individual in this house sleeps. It's interesting how the servants' wing is split in two by a wall—a west side and an east side."

Akane said, with a nod, "I've always found it inconvenient. Nee-sama was actually thinking of getting rid of it because there was no point really in a wall being there."

Inspector Etou gave a "hm" and continued, "Shidou-san and Juujou-san sleep on the west side, and Konohana-san and my daughter on the east side. Interesting, isn't it? To go from one side of the servants' wing to the other, a person would have to walk through at least three different hallways."

"I don't understand," Akane said.

"That's okay," the inspector replied. "I already have all I need to know to conduct my experiment tonight."

He then looked at Kanami and Hiyori with the same suspicious glance. Turning to where the inspector was looking, Maki noticed how Kanami was covertly writing down notes in a small notebook.

The Elite Guard hissed, "Etou, you're on a job!"

Kanami quickly apologized but took just one last look at what she had written. A list of everything she thought important...each clue was a jig-saw piece that somehow was supposed to fit into her little puzzle:

1) Chloral hydrate

2) Sleeping medicine

3) Love letters

4) Secret tunnel (used recently and quite often)

5) Blackmail note

6) Yukari-sama's handwriting

7) Statement of new Origami Head

8) Sterile (can't have children)

9) Adoption certificate

With a sigh, Kanami's attention was distracted by Ema, whose phone was ringing. Her expression altered, when she looked at the small screen and she quickly excused herself.

"Shidou-san, can I have a bathroom break?" Kanami asked.

About to return a curt negative, Maki was forestalled by Suzuka who said, "Be quick, okay, Kanami-san?"

With a nod, Kanami followed in the direction of where her school president went. She didn't have to go far to find her. The Minoseki Toji stayed hidden out of view, keeping a close eye and ear alert.

"I didn't have any money today," she heard. "That's why I couldn't give the cash. No, please don't. I promise I'll give it."

Ema looked like she on the verge of breaking into tears again, once she hung up. Kanami could see a lump go down the woman's throat as she covered her mouth with her hand in despair.

"President Hashima?"

Flinching in terror, Ema quickly tried to dry her tears to pretend she hadn't been crying. It was no use though. She knew that Kanami just witnessed her.

"President Hashima, why didn't you tell anyone that you were being blackmailed by President Souraku's husband?" Kanami asked, in a concerned tone.

"H-How did you know?" Ema stammered.

"I admit I listened in on your conversation with President Souraku earlier today," Kanami confessed. "That time, you said, 'He has the law of his side.' Going by how Souraku Haruto is a lawyer...well, that offered me a pointer. Also, you just said on the phone that you didn't have any money today and couldn't give cash. President Souraku's husband was the only person who came to the mansion today. Besides, I saw him whisper to you before he left."

"So," the Minoseki Toji added, in a serious voice, "is that why you kept asking Yukari-sama for money?"

The older woman shot a look at her. The fear, anger, and mistrust in her eyes were unmistakable.

"Please tell me the truth, President Hashima," Kanami pleaded. "No more lies. You lie to me again and I'll find the truth on my own."

A defeated sigh left the president's lips, seeing she had no way out of this. She knew Kanami well. The Minoseki Toji had always been a determined seeker for the truth.

"Alright."

A/N: So, now we know that it was Souraku Haruto that was blackmailing Ema! The next chapter will reveal Ema's entire backstory on what happened. And there will also be another secret that Inspector Etou will find out when he conducts his experiment later... What is Kanami's father up to?