Chapter 15: The Swan and the Duck: Entry Two

Watanabe received a file from the agency. He went to Takeshi's office and reported the following:

Swan's monthly report: Things that happen out of the regular routine.

Entry One:

Swan was seen with a little girl accompanying her to the parking lot near the train station.

Observation: Swan was having fun teasing the little girl's hair and running away.

The little girl was identified as Koito Yuu.

Entry Two:

Swan goes to Osaka with Koito Yuu.

Day 1: They went to a restaurant. At the end of the night, Swan was seen guiding a drunk Koito Yuu to the car.

Day 2: Swan didn't go out of the hotel. Storm Warning.

Day 3: Swan goes back to Tokyo.

Observation: Swan looks very happy.

Entry Three:

Swan was seen walking with Koito Yuu again.

Observation: Swan looks serious. The little girl was trying to talk to her but was ignored.

Entry Four:

Swan was walking briskly towards the train station.

Observation: Same as entry three. The little girl looks worried.

Entry Five:

Swan walks with Koito Yuu and Nanami Touko to a Café called Echo.

Swan walks to the parking lot alone.

Observation: Swan looks sad.

Entry Six:

Swan and little girl are walking towards the train station.

Observation: The little girl looks sad. Swan kept looking over at the little girl. Swan seems nervous.

Entry Seven:

Swan is seen with the little girl for the next few days.

Observation: Swan looks very happy.

The route from school to home and the route to Koito Yuu's house are different than usual.

"Hmmn. Why are the routes different?" Takeshi asked.

"I don't have any idea. Maybe we should ask Jin?"

"Ah yes, Jin, thanks again for recommending him to me, Kaito. He had been doing a great job driving and protecting my daughter. I wouldn't trust anyone else but him to take care of her. Except you, maybe. But I need you here."

"He is happy to have this job. He gets to provide for his family. It has given him a direction after his forced retirement from the army. He has made a full recovery thanks to the therapy program that the company provided. He is more than thankful. In my opinion, he thinks of Lady Sayaka like his own daughter, if that won't offend you."

"I am happy for the sentiment, but she is my daughter."

"No one is trying to take her from you, sir."

"Ah, sorry, I am very possessive when it comes to her."

"Any father would be. A great one at that."

"Ah stop with the flattery. You know it will only work if it comes from my wife or daughter. Now tell Jin to go here." He said looking at the time. "Yes, my daughter won't be out of school for hours."

Jin arrived at the CEO's office. His military posture, clean-cut hair, and muscular build look out of place at the corporate center.

"Ah, Jin. How are you doing? Please sit down."

Bowing deeply, Jin complied. "Good morning, sir."

"We got the monthly report from the agency. It seems that the routes you had taken have changed in the past few days. Care to explain?" Watanabe said.

"It was requested by Lady Sayaka. She instructed me to take the longest route possible when she was with Koito-san. But this morning she told me not to do that anymore."

"Curious," Said the CEO. Leaning on his chair.

"Do you have any theories as to why she requested this?" Watanabe asked.

"I think Lady Sayaka deserves her privacy."

"She definitely does. I just want to make sure she is safe." Said the father.

"She is safe, sir. I will die before I let anything happen to her and to the people she cares about."

"What is your opinion regarding Koito Yuu?" Asked the assistant.

"I think she's an amazing person. She is a good kid. Even told me that I call her by her first name. But Lady Sayaka seems to want to be the only one to call her by her first name. She's the reason Lady Sayaka has been smiling more these days. Which I am very happy about, if I could say so myself."

"So, you know that they are…"

"Yes sir."

"And you don't have any problem with that?" Watanabe inquired.

"I don't see how it's any of my business what makes a person happy. They are not hurting anybody."

"You will continue to protect her then?"

"It would be my pleasure, sir."

"Ah, Jin, apologies for the inquiries." Takeshi finally spoke after Watanabe's questioning. "We just want to make sure that the girls are safe and that their relationship doesn't bother you."

"I would not dream of offending Lady Sayaka, sir."

"I know my man." Takashi said. Standing up. Jin stood up as well. "I couldn't be more thankful that you were there for her when I couldn't."

"It is an honor to serve your family, sir. My life would be very different without your help, and this job."

"Come now, Jin. I didn't hire you to feel indebted to me. I hired you because you are the best man for the job. Please continue to keep them safe."

"With my life, sir."

When Jin was dismissed and left the room, Takeshi was still musing about the Swan and the duck.

"Are you sure we can't start a softball team for the school?"

"It will take years for the school to create a team and train them and to qualify to compete in the district. Also, they can't use the baseball team's court. We would need to build one, especially for the team. May I ask why you want to do this, sir?"

"I want our duck to shine. To use the skills that she has and be happy. I think she's bored out of her mind with the student council."

"Sir, if you do that, Their time together will be lessened. I don't think our Swan will like that.

"Oh crap, I didn't think about that. And if she finds out it was my idea. Oh, the horror!"

"A simple game might do it, sir."

"Ah, I have friends in Italy whose sons and daughters play the game. Do you know if the duck has a passport?"

"You wanted to bring her to Italy just to play softball."

"I think our Swan will not come to Italy this summer if the duck isn't with her. I can't allow that. It is the only time I could spend time with her."

"I will check on it, sir. But I think it's unlikely for her to have a passport. There was no record of her leaving the country since birth."

"Then request it and pay for it. If it seems suspicious. Request for the whole family to get passports."

"Very well, sir." Watanabe said it nonchalantly.

"I know that tone."

"It seems excessive, sir."

"But who is Saeki Takeshi if not for his grand gestures?"