Chapter 68
Seiya sat together with Haruka in front of Michiru's large television, engrossed in a racing game, while Usagi and Michiru chatted animatedly at the table. Outside, Taiki patiently knocked on the door, waiting to be let in. A deep furrow of worry creased his forehead as he finally squeezed past Haruka and settled down next to Usagi.
"Is he gone already?" Seiya asked, setting his controller down on the coffee table and attentively studying his brother.
"Yes," Taiki replied shortly, still pondering over the peculiar conversation. Seiya's palpable relief at not having invited Usagi could almost be felt.
"And what did you discuss? How did you leave it?" Michiru asked casually, sliding a glass of water over to Taiki.
"A few things... I need to mull it over myself, but it seems we have the same goal. We'll meet again in a few days to continue deliberating," Taiki explained, sounding slightly absent-minded.
Seiya stood up and approached the others, finally stopping behind Usagi. However, his gaze remained fixed on his older brother.
"Taiki, what's wrong? I can see something's bothering you. What did he say to unsettle you like this?" he asked directly, hoping for an answer.
Taiki felt caught off guard but attempted to conceal his emotions. "Well, it was a brief but intense conversation, and we both have a lot to consider. You'll surely learn everything soon, but not today. Serena, are you ready? I think it's time to head home. Amy is probably already waiting for us."
Usagi tilted her head back to look at Seiya. The contemplative expression on his face also put her in a pensive mood. Therefore, she decided to ask Taiki for details of the conversation later when they were alone. Standing up, she kissed Seiya on the lips. "Yes, I think we can go," she said to Taiki, then sought Seiya's gaze again. "You'll surely join us once you finish your race, won't you?"
"Yeah, it won't take long. I'll be right behind you. Ruka is as slow as a snail today," Seiya said with a mischievous grin.
"Says the one who I almost overtook in the first lap," the sandy blonde retorted challengingly from the sofa, and soon the two were immersed in their own world again.
In the car, there was initially a subdued silence. Usagi hoped at first that Taiki would initiate the conversation himself, but when he didn't, and as the tower loomed closer, she eventually spoke up.
"Taiki, what's wrong? What did Mamoru tell you that's got you so pensive?" Her words were chosen carefully, yet there was a certain urgency in her voice to prompt a response.
Her husband glanced sideways and offered her a weak smile. "Serena, if I tell you now, I need to trust that you won't tell anyone. Not even Seiya, and certainly not Yaten, especially not Yaten," he said seriously.
As he spoke, he kept her in his peripheral vision, and a strange feeling crept into Usagi's stomach, but she nodded nonetheless.
"Serena, your sister is alive," he announced briefly, pausing at a red light, waiting for her reaction with mixed feelings.
"I know," she replied, looking expectantly at Taiki, waiting for him to continue.
"No, I don't mean Chibiusa, but Minako," Taiki repeated his revelation, as he anticipated a different reaction from his wife.
"Yes, I know," Usagi said again, still waiting for the news that had thrown Taiki off balance.
"How could you know? She was declared dead, and you took her place," he asked, surprised, accelerating slightly as the light turned green.
"Well, at that women's event last month, I talked to her on the phone. Rei gave me her phone and said her sister-in-law wanted to tell me something. Of course, I didn't know at the time that it was Minako on the other end, but the next day, when Yaten was at our apartment, he showed me an old video of himself and her and asked me if I had talked to this voice. It was clearly the same voice I had heard the day before," she explained.
Taiki's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white. "So Yaten also knows she's alive. It wasn't just a suspicion for him all this time, but he already had certainty that Mrs. Chiba was Minako," he observed.
"Yes, I'm pretty sure of that. But why is it such a big deal now?" Usagi inquired.
"I don't know. But obviously, Minako doesn't want Yaten to know. She has a secret that he didn't want to entrust to me... But tell me, this women's event is coming up again in a few days... do you think you could find out something there?" he asked as he turned into the parking garage.
"Yes, the meeting is again the day after tomorrow... I can try, Rei will surely be there," Usagi replied.
"Minako too, she loved those events, and if she's back in Tokyo, she'll definitely show up there," Taiki assured her.
"What do you think, in which direction will this secret go? I mean, I can't exactly say, 'Hey, I'm your sister, what have you got to tell me,'" Usagi remarked.
Taiki rubbed his fingers thoughtfully over his eyebrows. "Try to gain her trust first. Maybe she'll tell you on her own who she is and why she's here... Oh, and I think it would be nice if you could take Amy with you. Since she's officially with Seiya, it would be proper to introduce her to society. Plus, it would surely do her good to be around other people for a change," he suggested.
Usagi gave him a warm smile. "Of course."
Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Damn it. I still need to call Petzite; we haven't picked out any outfits yet, and gradually, I can't bear these figure-hugging dresses anymore. You can hardly see anything, but even the regular pants pinch occasionally... and then Amy needs something too."
Taiki chuckled and helped her out of the car. "Take it easy. Petz is a pro; she'll have everything sorted out by tomorrow."
The following day passed by in a blur for Usagi. She had her hands full with various tasks. First, she accompanied Makoto to the homeless center to assess the renovation progress. Afterwards, there was an extensive press conference about the upcoming opening. On the way back, she persuaded Makoto to make a quick stop at Naru's place to check on her friend's well-being.
In the afternoon, Petzite arrived to discuss styling. Although Amy was initially very uncertain, the stylist quickly persuaded her into a wonderful simple black dress. The knee-length garment hugged Amy in a breathtaking way, flattering her figure. The fabric fell lightly, gently enveloping her silhouette and lending her a graceful aura. A subtle V-neck and delicate golden embellishments along the hem added a touch of elegance to the dress, accentuating the colors of her complexion.
For Usagi, however, things were different. After learning about her pregnancy, Petzite delved into a series of catalogs and promptly ordered everything she deemed suitable to showcase the future baby bump. Then she ran through the room where the dresses hung, searching for something appropriate. Usagi had made it clear that the pregnancy should remain a secret for a few more weeks.
As Petzite sifted through the selection of elegant gowns, her gaze fell upon a charming black dress that seemed perfect for the tenth week of pregnancy. The floor-length dress made of black fabric was elegant yet timeless. The flowing lines delicately played around Usagi's slight bulge. A golden empire waist subtly drew attention above the belly, while a delicate golden belt perfectly rounded off the ensemble.
It was already dark when Usagi finally opened the door to her apartment. Seiya was sitting at the table, unusually engrossed in a thick folder, wearing a pensive expression.
"Everything alright with you?" Usagi asked, dropping onto the sofa exhaustedly. Seiya's head jerked up; he hadn't even noticed Usagi entering. "Darling, where did you come from?"
"From downstairs. Petz almost lost it when she found out about the pregnancy. But Taiki was right, she's reliable. I have a wonderful dress for tomorrow. But now tell me, since when do you bring work home, and why do you look so odd?" she demanded, leaning slightly on the sofa arm to get a better look at him.
Seiya leaned back slightly, interlocking his hands behind his head. "I don't know, but something's not right in the accounting. After Yaten found out that Kenji's outlying offices were being monitored, Ruka and I went through everything today, and most of it checks out, except for this," he gestured to the folder in front of him. "I just can't figure out where the mistake is. Or rather, why it was manipulated... it just doesn't make sense."
Now Usagi's curiosity was piqued. She rose and stood behind him. Her hands gently massaged his shoulders, and she lowered her head to see what he meant. However, all she saw were numerous tables that she couldn't make sense of.
Seiya noticed her puzzled expression and continued with his explanation. "Here are the original loading lists of the freighters, and here in the table are the lists we archive. Ruka stumbled upon discrepancies. Not major ones, but still recurring for almost a year. In the case of a thorough examination, that could actually be noticed and raise questions, especially since I don't know exactly what was loaded in the containers."
Usagi felt his tension and began to massage his shoulders more firmly. "Does Taiki know about this?"
In response, however, Seiya just shook his head. "No, the port is my concern. Once I figure out exactly what all this is about, we'll see... Go ahead and go to bed. Today must have been exhausting for you. I won't stay up much longer, I promise."
Usagi gave Seiya a tender kiss on the forehead and whispered a reassuring "Everything will be fine, there's definitely a harmless explanation for this," into his ear. Then she made her way to the bedroom. Although she didn't have many pregnancy complaints, this tiredness that sometimes overcame her was absolutely unfamiliar. Barely had she laid down, she found herself already in the land of dreams.
When Usagi woke up the next morning, the bed next to her was empty. Instead, she found a note on the nightstand.
Already at the port, had to check something. Try not to stress yourself later. See you tonight. Love you, Seiya
Usagi sighed softly as she read the note. This issue with the manipulated lists seemed to really weigh on Seiya's mind. With a determined look, she got up and went to the bathroom. Under the shower, she wondered if she could somehow help Seiya, but nothing came to mind. All these lists were completely new territory for her. So she could only hope that he would find a plausible explanation for it all and that her father wasn't involved again. Which, upon further thought, was entirely possible.
After getting dressed, Usagi decided to go downstairs to Makoto. Perhaps working with her could provide some distraction. Together, they could go over the presentation of her homeless center again and discuss the final details.
When Usagi entered Makoto's place, there was already a flurry of activity in her apartment. Makoto had been in the kitchen for some time, and a heavenly scent filled the air.
"Serena, great to see you! We need to go over the presentation for the homeless center again. I made some changes after we were at the construction site yesterday and included some recent pictures," greeted the blonde, handing her a small plate of fresh cookies as she sat down at the table.
Together, they went through the presentation, considering what points could be further improved and exchanging new ideas. It felt good to focus on something else, even though the worries were still present in the background.
But suddenly, there was a knock on the door, interrupting their thoughts. Makoto got up to answer it. Amy entered, looking very embarrassed and hesitant. She nervously fiddled with her sweater and finally said, "I just wanted to let you know that I think it would be better if I stayed home today after all. I have a bad feeling about going to the event."
Usagi sensed Amy's uncertainty and stood up to approach her. "Amy, it's okay to feel unsure. I felt the same way at first, it's only my second time going there," she began empathetically. "But you don't have to be afraid. We'll be there together, and we'll have fun together. You're not alone. Makoto and I will be there too."
"Yes, exactly. Plus, Petz has already prepared a dress for you. It would be a shame if that went to waste," Makoto added.
"And are you sure I should really show up there? I mean, I'm just a regular doctor. Not a billionaire heiress or anything. The people there come from completely different circles," Amy finally expressed her true concerns.
Usagi took her hands and looked deep into her eyes. "Amy, stop saying things like that. You're with Taiki; you should actually be in the position I'm in now. You're a wonderful woman, even though a little more self-confidence would really do you good... But officially you're now Seiya's partner, so you have the right to be there. Don't always make yourself smaller than you are. We'll get ready later and show them what Kou women are capable of. Come on, let me explain the project that Makoto and I are working on. You'll surely think of something too."
Amy found the project genuinely intriguing and contributed some excellent ideas that were eagerly embraced by Makoto and Usagi. The three women sat together, engaging in lively discussion and sketching out their thoughts on paper. It was impressive how quickly the ideas evolved and became a well-thought-out concept.
Time flew by, and they only paused their brainstorming when Petzite arrived to begin styling Usagi and Amy.
Meanwhile, Seiya paced restlessly in front of his large window. "Damn it all! Do you realize what this means?!" he exclaimed, running his hands through his hair in agitation. Haruka sat on the couch, observing him from the side. "Be glad we caught it in time and can still mitigate the damage. We've narrowly escaped disaster this time," she tried to placate him, but Seiya's nerves were frayed. "Haruka, these are just the numbers from last year. Who knows how long he's been manipulating them. If we had a proper audit, I'd be in jail for the next few years. Who's going to take care of Usagi and the kids then?" "Her husband, perhaps?" was Haruka's dry response.
The fact that her best friend had been pacing around cursing for an hour significantly lowered her sensitivity. Seiya shot her a sharp glance. "This isn't funny, Haruka," he hissed. "Then stop shouting and do something about it. The sooner we find a solution, the better. And don't worry about Usagi and the kids, you're not going to jail. We caught it in time. But it's going to take forever to go through the archives alone."
Seiya sighed and nodded. "You're right." He reached for his phone and dialed Taiki's number. After a few rings, Taiki answered. "Taiki, we have a serious problem. I need all the people you can spare down at the port for damage control. I'll explain what happened later."