A/N: Just started school and already I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. One of my professors has given no instructions at all whatsoever, so my classmates and I are stuck in the dark. Thankfully, my Japanese course, in comparison, is going smoothly so far. However, my sensei's Wi-Fi is terrible, so he kept getting cut off on Zoom. Lol.

Chapter 18: Scandalous Discoveries

"It all started after Tagitsuhime's defeat in the Great Year-End Disaster," Ema began. "Upon a visit to Ayanokouji, I unintentionally discovered that the Myouga Project was still being continued by Haruto-san. He had always been a scheming man, who sought to build an economic empire through the trading of noro. Like a drug, Haruto-san discovered that noro had addictive properties that could guarantee him prospective buyers. Yuzuki-senpai knew, of course—him being her husband and all that. But...she never tried to stop him. She knew he wouldn't listen to her."

As Kanami listened patiently, trying to contain her awe, the strange look upon Ema's face made her restrain any inquisitive questions and barefaced suppositions she originally had. It was almost as though the Minoseki president looked sorrier for Yuzuki than she was for herself. Kanami thought back to when Haruto came to the mansion. The way he and Yuzuki glared at each other... How they didn't even exchange a word... The Minoseki Toji wondered if Yuzuki and her husband even shared some form of affection towards one another. Why they even married each other was a mystery.

"Of course, once I found out about everything, Haruto-san said that he'd make me regret it if I ever snitched about the Myouga Project to anyone," Ema continued. "I blame myself for my weakness. Clearly, I was someone Haruto-san could easily manipulate and that was why he also started demanding money from me."

"And President Souraku knew about this the whole time?" Kanami asked, incredulously.

With downcast eyes, Ema nodded. "Yes, but I'm glad she didn't speak up. Yuzuki-senpai already suffers too much at the hands of her husband. We both knew what Haruto-san was capable of. We talked and I managed to persuade Yuzuki-senpai to stay silent."

Then, with a hardened look, she grabbed Kanami's shoulders, forcibly pleading, "Etou-san, I can't drag you into this mess too. So please, promise me you won't do anything about the matter."

Her olive-green eyes were wide and unblinking. They darted from side to side occasionally, as though afraid of catching somebody who'd have happened to listen in on them. Ema already knew that she had said too much and her rising fear involuntarily made her fingers clench harder around her student's shoulders. Wincing a little at the Minoseki president's athletic grip, Kanami kept her mouth shut. She was not prepared to make promises she couldn't keep.

"We've both been gone long enough," Kanami said, at last. "Let's go back to the dining hall."

With a shadow falling over her eyes, Ema cautioned, "Take heed of my warning, Etou-san. You don't know what he's like."

"We'll see."

Night fell once more over the Origami Family Estate. Even though she already knew the answer, Akane hospitably suggested for drinks to be brought into the library. As she guessed, nobody agreed to this. The dark shadows shrouding the mansion looked so similar to that awful night. In the daytime, the library appeared cheerful and was the essence of modernity. However, now late at night, the library seemed to have taken a sinister form, and even the clock above the mantlepiece looked as though it had a ghostly face. No one wanted to go back into a room that gave them all painful and horrid memories.

The five presidents walked to their rooms together, exchanging their goodnights in the hallway. And then, without a second thought, locked their doors...

Tuckered out from the amount of food he ate, Sergeant Tanaka likewise decided to retire for the night, after smoking his cigar. Kanami and Hiyori went with him.

"Where's your father?" the sergeant asked Kanami.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since dinner ended," came the reply.

Shrugging his shoulders, Sergeant Tanaka said, "Guess I'll talk with him tomorrow morning. Goodnight, you two!"

For a few seconds, the two Tojis stood staring at the sergeant's closed door, wordlessly. As it was now just the two of them in the hallway, it was impossible to avoid each other's sight. Their eyes instantly met and an unmistakable blush was on both of their cheeks.

"D-Do you still want to?" Kanami asked, tentatively.

Looking away trying to hide the smile forming on her red face, Hiyori replied, "O-Okay..."

Shyly, the Heijou Toji took Kanami's outstretched hand, letting the warmth from it spread through hers. Hand-in-hand, the two girls walked back to Kanami's bedroom. Mustering up some courage, Hiyori even leaned her head a little on the brown-haired Toji's shoulder. The room was pitch-black when they entered it, but neither of them turned on the light. Both of them knew they wouldn't be needing it anyway.

Struggling to control her breathing, Hiyori let herself be guided by Kanami to the bed. It was so silent that they could almost hear the beating of each other's hearts. Unsure of who would take the lead, the two Tojis sat for a few moments on Kanami's bed, before slowly leaning in at the same time with shy hesitation. Unlike the kiss they shared in Yukari's room, both girls took things slow, taking the time to enjoy the taste of each other's lips. With warmth starting to cloud the atmosphere around them, clothes began to feel like constrictions, as sweat matted their bodies. Without conscious thought, Kanami's expert fingers stripped Hiyori down to her undergarments, not releasing her lips for even a second. The Heijou Toji was just about to do the same for her Minoseki lover when—

Click!

All of a sudden, the room was flooded with light. Not getting enough time to realize what just happened, Kanami and Hiyori's jaws dropped when they saw who was standing in the corner. His finger still on the light switch, Inspector Etou stared at them with a stern expression, his eyes narrowed and twitching ever so slightly. The two Tojis remained frozen, aghast and terrified.

"Was wondering when you both would come," the inspector said.

Hyperventilating from fear, Kanami stammered, "F-Father..."

Her eyes as wide as Kanami's, Hiyori desperately tried to cover herself with the bedsheets. To be caught in an indecent act—not to mention by her lover's father! Hiyori knew she would receive the brunt of Inspector Etou's anger. He must've thought of her as a slut who seduced his daughter into going along with such provocative temptations!

"What you two were about to do isn't a first-time thing, is it? Don't try to deny that you haven't done it before," Inspector Etou said. Kanami and Hiyori only looked away in shame.

"That's why you were in my daughter's room last night, hm, Juujou-san?" Kanami's father added. "And also why you were sneaking back to your own quarters at one o'clock before it was time to do your shift…not knowing that Konohana-san spotted you."

Hiyori didn't lift her head when she asked, "How did you know?"

"Started suspecting it when I smelled the familiar lavender-mint perfume in Kanami's room when she and I were searching the mansion this morning. You and your guardian, President Gojou, both use it. However, I asked myself: why would President Gojou be in my daughter's room? Well, there can be only one other person who would be then. And also, I found these in Yukari-sama's room…"

And with those words, the inspector pulled something out from his pocket, showing it to the two girls. Kanami and Hiyori could see that they were cut-out newspaper clippings, which clearly showed the two of them in suggestive situations.

"How long has this been going on?" Inspector Etou demanded.

"After we returned from the netherworld," Kanami answered, close to tears.

Inspector Etou remained silent, waiting for his daughter to explain in her own words.

"Father, I love Hiyori-chan!" Kanami cried. "And she loves me."

Still no word came from the inspector's mouth. The silence was agonizing to the two Tojis. Even if Inspector Etou lost his temper at them and started yelling, anything was better than just feeling his judgmental eyes silently staring at them.

After what felt like forever, the inspector closed his eyes with a sigh. "We'll discuss this later tomorrow."

He jerked his head towards the door saying, "Back to your own room, Juujou-san—and don't even think of coming back here later in the night."

With tears pouring down her face, Hiyori hurriedly put her clothes back on and stumbled after the inspector, leaving Kanami to stare after them. Right after the door slid closed, the Minoseki Toji's emotions couldn't be contained any longer. Burying her face in the bedsheets, Kanami let herself start crying, allowing her tears to fall freely. Her sobbing was loud enough for Hiyori and Inspector Etou to hear. The former only bit her lip, hanging her head with guilt. The inspector, however, kept a straight face, sighing internally.

'What on Earth do I do now, Minato?'

A/N: So, now we know what Inspector Etou's "experimental theory" was, and also why Hiyori was up late on the night of Yukari's death! Were you all expecting that little twist? What will become of Kanami and Hiyori's relationship now that Inspector Etou knows about their love affair?

There will be six more chapters until this murder mystery fanfic is complete. Thanks to all who stuck through so far, along with those who've sent their reviews! :)