Chapter 69
Usagi, Amy, and Makoto entered the magnificent banquet hall. Usagi's gaze swept through the crowd, but Rei was nowhere to be seen. Nor did she spot any other lady in the Chiba colors. Instead, her eyes fell on a single woman, strikingly wearing a red dress. However, this person had nothing in common with her sister. Usagi had examined the few photos of Minako that Seiya and Taiki possessed before her departure. Long blonde hair, similar to hers, a slender figure, and a charming smile characterized the image of her sister in her memory. But the woman before her had short, light brown hair, and her silhouette seemed somewhat bulkier. Her nose was clearly not as well-formed. That was all Usagi could judge, as she was surrounded by a large crowd of people.
Nevertheless, Usagi felt observed by the woman, an inexplicable unease ran through her. It was as if the stranger had something about her that she couldn't grasp. She was absolutely certain that she had never seen her before, and yet there was something about her that the blonde couldn't quite describe.
"Serena, calm down, they will come. We are a bit early this time," whispered Makoto to her, noticing her searching gaze.
"Yes, I know, but I'm somehow nervous. If it really is Minako, then I'll meet my sister here soon. It's a strange feeling," confessed the blonde, keeping the entrance firmly in her eye.
"Yes, that's understandable. But please do me a favor and stay close to me, another incident like the one with your father recently would not be good for my heart," Makoto said, laughing.
That even elicited a soft chuckle from Amy. "Not just yours. I could also do without having to patch someone up tonight."
That somewhat relaxed the atmosphere between them, and the three of them ventured a bit further into the banquet hall. The first of the women now approached them more closely and began to ask Usagi about the homeless center, which she answered in a targeted and professional manner.
Every time someone wanted to toast with her, Makoto and Amy intervened skillfully to avoid the alcohol for her. It turned into a sort of game for the two of them, which all three found amusing. The champagne glasses changed hands every time in an unnoticed moment, so Usagi always ended up with an empty glass or a fresh orange juice.
But then Usagi tensed up. Of course, she kept glancing at the door, and right now something flitted past. Black hair in a fiery red dress. Without a doubt, Usagi recognized Rei. She stood at the door, talking to two other ladies, but then their eyes met.
Rei broke away from the group and came smiling towards them. "Usagi, it's so nice to see you here!" She hugged her warmly, followed by a friendly nod to Amy and Makoto.
"Rei, it's great to see you too," Usagi replied with a radiant smile. "Rei, may I introduce you to Amy? ... Seiya's ... girlfriend." The last words almost got stuck in her throat, and she gestured to the blue-haired woman beside her.
Amy was also uncomfortable, but she played it off and shook hands with Chiba. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Chiba." But Rei waved it off. "Not so formal, you belong here now too. I'm Rei, and you can take your seats now. There were some unforeseen delays, but we'll start the program soon." She was already turning to leave, but then paused for a moment. "Serena, I'd like you to follow me after the presentation. There's something important I need to talk to you about," she whispered barely audibly to Usagi, and she nodded in response.
The presentation began, and the various aid projects were presented. Each lady proudly showcased her work and efforts to help the needy.
Finally, it was Usagi and Makoto's turn to present the homeless center. Usagi stepped in front of the crowd, her heart pounding with excitement. She talked about the challenges and successes they had experienced during the renovation, showed pictures after the renovation, and invited everyone present to the opening ceremony.
Usagi's presentation went smoothly, and she felt the gaze of the audience upon her. Then the air was filled with a loud applause. As she stepped off the stage, her hands still trembled with excitement, but she couldn't deny the pride she felt. And in the next moment, she saw Rei standing by a door. She gave her a silent nod, indicating that it was time to follow her. Then she glanced at the audience. Amy sat in her seat, listening to the remaining speeches and presentations, then she looked at Makoto. She knew immediately what Usagi wanted from her. With a few steps behind, she followed her.
Rei didn't even turn around as she walked through the corridors. It wasn't until she reached one of the back doors that she stopped. "Serena, everything we discuss in here must remain between us. Do you understand?" she asked urgently.
"Yes, of course," Usagi replied and reached for the doorknob. Slowly, she pushed it down, but before she could fully open the door, Rei's arm shot forward and blocked Makoto's path. "Stop. Not you. This is something just between us."
"That's not an option. I am responsible for Serena's safety and will not leave her side. Either I enter with her, or I will take her back to the car, and the conversation will be over before it begins," Makoto responded firmly, and there was a brief standoff between her and the black-haired woman.
Rei rolled her eyes somewhat exaggeratedly and slowly withdrew her arm. "Fine, suit yourself. But you stay in the background next to the door. I don't want to hear or see you," Rei explained her rules.
"As long as I have Serena in sight, I don't care where I stand," Makoto replied curtly.
One last time, Usagi made sure her friend was directly behind her, then she opened the door. The room was somewhat dimmed by the heavy curtains drawn, but still bright enough for Usagi to easily make out the woman by the window. The woman in the red dress, who had caught her attention at the beginning of the event. Usagi's gaze lingered fascinated on the woman's midsection. It was not as she had initially suspected, thicker, but she carried a beautiful baby bump. One that she would also have in a few months.
"I'm very pleased that we finally get to meet, Serena Kou," the woman greeted her, and at the sound of her voice, Usagi felt uncertain once again. This voice, it was clearly the one she had spoken with on the phone, the voice from Yaten's recording, her sister's voice, and yet the appearance didn't match what she had expected at all. Of course, she knew since yesterday from Taiki that the woman was definitely Minako Chiba, but she couldn't help but scrutinize her again and again. In this disguise, she would have never recognized her under different circumstances.
"Um... yes... likewise. Thank you for the invitation," she replied politely.
"Oh, that was long overdue. I know for a fact that Mamoru spilled the beans about me to Taiki yesterday, and since I know Taiki well enough, I'm pretty sure he also filled you in. Or am I mistaken?" the brunette asked somewhat challengingly.
Usagi visibly struggled to maintain her composure. She shook her head thoughtfully. "No, you're actually right about that, but I already knew you were still alive."
Smiling, Minako turned to her sister and skillfully removed her mask with a few practiced movements. The face that Usagi now looked at was much closer to the one in the pictures. However, it did appear somewhat rounder than in the photos.
"Well done, sister. Now tell me, how did you find out?" Minako suddenly demanded more urgently, slowly moving towards Usagi.
Usagi's thoughts were racing. Minako couldn't find out that Yaten knew about her, so she needed a believable explanation quickly. Her gaze wandered to Makoto, who stood beside Rei by the door. She couldn't expect any help from her in this situation.
"After we talked on the phone, I happened to see a video of you on Taiki's phone and recognized your voice. Since our father is quite peculiar, it was a logical assumption that you faked your death... And I also have a suspicion as to why," Usagi explained, her eyes returning to her sister's belly.
With a slight smile, Minako placed a hand on her bulge. "Yes, indeed, it's impossible to hide it after a certain point. But the main thing is that our father doesn't find out and that the little one is safe."
"Um... Minako... please forgive my directness, but would you kindly tell me what happened back then? You're the only one who can give me answers... I've just ended up in this world and would like to understand what has happened and, above all, why you resorted to such drastic measures."
Minako took a few steps toward the table and pulled a chair aside, taking a seat. A concerned expression had formed on her face. "Serena, I'll definitely tell you everything someday, but not today. Please, have a seat," she said with an inviting gesture, which Usagi complied with.
"Serena, this is about much more than it might seem at first glance, and eventually, everything will come together for you as well. But what I need from you today are answers," the elder sister began calmly, fixing her sister with a firm gaze.
Usagi was torn. Not only did Minako want answers, but she did too. On the other hand, her gut feeling told her to trust the stranger. Nervously, she twisted her wedding ring and considered how she could also get some answers. Then she remembered her husband's words, urging her to earn her sister's trust, and managed to nod. "Okay, what would you like to know?"
"First, please tell me the full name of your mother," Minako demanded, folding her hands over her belly.
Usagi bit her lower lip lightly, carefully considering everything. She needed her sister's trust and hoped to gain some of it with this answer. "My mother's name was Ikuko Sasaki. Shortly before my first birthday, she married a man named Shin Kimura, and from then on, she lived as Ikuko Kimura. But I'm fairly certain that's not what you wanted to hear... because before she adopted the name Ikuko Sasaki, she lived in another world under the name Yumi Ikuko Chiba and was forced to go into hiding for the sake of her daughter, for my sake," she recounted, pointing out numerous parallels between Minako and her mother. Minako listened intently and carefully weighed the words.
"Yes, I understand... So, what Taiki said was indeed true. Alright, that leads me to my next point. How is your marriage with Taiki going?" she asked further.
Of course, Usagi had expected questions in this direction and had prepared to speak only the best about her husband. "It's really going well. Taiki is a great man, always considerate and polite, always mindful in his actions..."
"Serena, you don't need to list his virtues for me. I've known him almost my whole life, just like his brothers... I'm interested in something else. Father pressured you both to sign a prenuptial agreement, with some undoubtedly dubious clauses, as I know him. Are you both adhering to all these agreements?" Minako interrupted.
"Um.. well, at least as much as possible," Usagi mumbled, trying not to let anything show.
"Do you think you could quote me that contract or send me a copy of it?" Minako asked.
Thinking it over, Usagi furrowed her eyebrows. "It was several pages, but I can try. First, there was the clause stating that I must enter the marriage as a virgin... then there was something about properties owned by me but managed by Taiki... something about a dowry and about asset management and something about the companies," she began to recall what she remembered.
Minako scooted closer. "How did they finally arrange the company management, and what happens in case of a separation?" Minako pressed, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Um... I think it's better if I send you a copy. I can't quite remember how they arranged the division. I just know that Kenji and Kakashi have equal voting shares, and Taiki has a smaller share, but in case of a mishap, all shares gradually transfer to Taiki," she tried to explain, avoiding the part about separation. The recent devastating events just before New Year's Eve were still too fresh in her memory.
Something sparked in Minako's eyes. "Good. That already sounds favorable for us. How about you and Taiki come over for dinner one of these days? Then you can bring the documents, and we can get an idea of everything."
"I'll suggest it to Taiki, and he'll contact your husband. May I ask just one question, please?" Usagi said hesitantly as she rose again. Minako looked up at her and nodded.
"You mentioned earlier that you're having a girl. What month are you in?"
"At the beginning of the 7th month, and honestly, it's starting to get tiring. I can't wait to finally hold the little one in my arms... and be able to sleep on my stomach properly again," the brunette laughed, but her expression suddenly changed slightly. "Serena, even though it's none of my business, since it's a matter between you and Taiki: Try to delay a pregnancy for as long as possible. Such a child would be like the Holy Grail to Father. A child uniting all three houses would be of much higher value to him than this little one could ever be..."
Usagi did her best to remain calm, but she was already calculating fervently. Minako was in her 7th month of pregnancy now, and in September, she had faked her death, already being in the beginning of the 3rd month, almost as far along as she was now. She couldn't afford to reveal her own pregnancy. Luckily, Petz had chosen a great outfit that cleverly disguised it, but her instinct for escape kicked in immediately. She had to get out of here, preferably into the cool fresh air before Minako noticed something. She forced herself to smile and extended her hand to her sister. "Thank you for your advice and your invitation. I'm sure we'll find a date soon. You'll have to excuse me, I'm not alone, and our companion is still in the banquet hall."
Minako took her hand. "Oh, yes, of course, you mean Seiya's girlfriend, right? She seems nice, even if she appears a bit shy. I always thought he would be better suited to someone who kicks him in the butt once in a while, but for that, he still has Haruka by his side, I'm sure," she said, laughing.
Usagi couldn't help but laugh now either. Minako really seemed to know everyone well, including Haruka. "Yes, that's true, and he definitely needs those butt kicks from Haruka regularly, or the little provocations from Yaten." Gradually, the mood between them seemed to improve, but Usagi needed some distance from Minako for now.
Rei and Makoto were both standing next to the door, watching the two sisters intently from a distance. Usagi felt the tension slowly dissipate from her body as she bid farewell to Minako. One thing she had definitely learned in this brief conversation: Minako could never have fulfilled this marriage contract, as she was already pregnant before the engagement. Now the question arose whether Mamoru, who also wanted to marry her, was the father, or if her brother-in-law was actually in question. She shook off these thoughts again, finding it hard to imagine Yaten as the father, and after all, it was ultimately Mamoru Chiba who had married her. She put on her trained smile again and set off with Makoto to find Amy.