After rebirth, I became Tokyo Sentimental

Chapter 209, Section 208: Why do women make things difficult for other women?
The tides lapped in rhythmically, showing no sign of stopping. The salty seawater slapped against Chiyo Shihouin's face, some even splashing onto the corners of her eyes, gradually blurring her vision.

Fear surged in like the ocean.

Reason told her that she was not dead and that there was still a chance for things to turn around, but the deserted beach and the black ocean that was like a black hole made her constantly feel the instinct of human fear. Her hands and feet were cold and trembling slightly, and even if she broke free of the ropes, she could not stand up.

The squeaking sound of footsteps on the sand reached her ears, immediately attracting her attention.

Looking up with difficulty, following the sparse moonlight that was mostly obscured by dark clouds, Shihouin realized that the person standing in front of him was wearing a mask and a baseball cap, making it impossible to see their face. They were also wearing rubber gloves. However, they didn't seem to be as tall as he had imagined. Thinking back to his panicked conversation earlier, it didn't seem to be that person's voice.

"You...you're not Haruno Tsukasa!"

"who are you?"

"What on earth do you want to do!"

The height didn't match, the voice didn't match, and even the posture and shoes were different. Chiyo Shihouin became more and more certain that the person in front of her was not Tsukasa Harano.

"Someone is willing to pay to save your life," the man in the baseball cap said calmly. "He's very willing to spend the money."

"I'm also willing to spend money. As long as you let me go, I'll give you money, lots and lots of money, and I guarantee you'll see the money arrive in your account before I release you completely!"

Countless thoughts flashed through Chiyo Shihōin's mind in an instant, but her only thought right now was to survive, even if it meant spending all her money.

However, the other party did not seem to care about the money.

Or perhaps she didn't care about the money she mentioned.

"A lot of money?" Fujikawa Hosokawa remained unmoved, merely recalling the words Haruno Tsukasa had instructed her to say before responding with a disdainful tone, "Over three billion?"

Chiyo Shihōin was speechless for a moment.

After waking up and realizing the awkward situation of her hands and feet being bound, as well as the salty and wet feeling at the corner of her mouth, she initially thought that she had been knocked unconscious by Haruno Tsukasa in Chidorigafuchi and taken home, where she had been subjected to all sorts of unspeakable and filthy things, humiliated in various ways, and it was even possible that a camera had been set up next to her.

The person in front of him turned out not to be him.

And it looks like he really intends to sink himself to the bottom of the sea.

This made her heart sink.

After all, given her confidence, if Haruno Tsukasa wasn't even interested in touching her, he probably really was going to kill her. But she couldn't believe that Haruno Tsukasa actually had that kind of brain, and was he really not going to save his friend?

Too many contradictions have emerged.

But Chiyo Shihōin was too preoccupied to think about that right now.

Sensing her impending doom, Chiyo Shihōin, unwilling to give up, quickly spoke up to persuade her: "Sister, I can tell you're a woman too. Why should we women make things difficult for each other? Even if you kill me or throw me into the sea, you won't escape. Really, please don't go down the path of crime!"

It is impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of murder.

And it's definitely a big deal.

Especially in this modern society.

However, Chiyo Shihōin has clearly lived in a society filled with civilized laws for a long time. Even though she has come into contact with the dark side of the world, she is still under certain rules. Therefore, she does not understand the true rules of how this world works and thinks that they are afraid to act against the law.

It wasn't until Fujikawa Hosokawa's words woke her up.

"Can't escape? Really? Then why are there still so many people fleeing abroad every year?" she asked rhetorically.

Chiyo Shihōin was speechless again, unsure what to say. Her mind was racing, but she couldn't come up with a good solution. Biting her lip, she could only manage a strained utterance: "Why do women have to make things difficult for each other..."

“What’s so difficult about doing things for money?” Fujikawa Hosokawa paused for a moment, then added, “Besides, I also got other things in return for the money.”

"The boss has a very good eye."

"what?"

"You're so radiant."

"..." Chiyo Shihouin's pretty and quiet face flushed red instantly, as if all the blood in her body was flowing backward. An overwhelming sense of humiliation surged into her heart, and she cursed, "Bastard! Bitch! You deserve to die!"

Even on their deathbed, they were humiliated.

He's so cruel!
More toxic than myself!

For a fleeting moment, Chiyo Shihouin had the thought that she might as well be dead, but then came anger and fear. She was angry that Tsukasa Harano had such ruthless methods, and she was also afraid that she was still alive and that there were other methods waiting for her. She was both afraid and angry.

However, in her extreme anger, she felt that she still had a glimmer of hope, believing that Haruno Tsukasa would not have failed to save Komatsubara Shun, otherwise he would not have spared her life.

"No! You won't kill me! You're just trying to intimidate me!" Chiyo Shihouin cried hysterically.

“Why do you have such an idea?”

Fujikawa Hosokawa looked at the woman in front of her who had been driven crazy by the sales pitch her boss had given her, and asked in confusion.

"Because if you wanted to kill me, I wouldn't have woken up, let alone be standing here talking to me," Chiyo Shihouin said, revealing her speculation.

"It's just that your employer requires you to wake up. They want you to witness the end of your own life. What's so strange about that?"

Chiyo Shihōin's eyes widened in shock upon hearing the worst possible outcome she had anticipated. Her anger was replaced by fear once more, and she couldn't help but ask, "Didn't he make any other demands? Like, forcing me to hand over something or something? Did he really only say something else?"

"No."

"Really do not have?"

"Ah."

"How could there not be..."

Chiyo Shihōin seemed to have all her strength drained away as she lay on the cold sand, muttering to herself.

Seeing that the other party still didn't intend to take anything out, Fujikawa Hosokawa's eyes drooped slightly. She decided to prepare for the worst as Harano Tsukasa had instructed: "Alright, I've said what I needed to say. You've woken up normally now. Let's get down to business."

"I don't believe it anymore!"

"what are you doing!"

"Wait! Wait! I have something your employer wants, spare me! He'll definitely be interested..."

The sea at night seems capable of swallowing everything.

A terrifying aura permeated the air.

However, after the rising sun shone from the other side of the sea, the usual tranquility gradually returned.

On a road in a seaside park in Seya Ward, Yokohama, Tsukasa Harano leaned against the car door with his arms crossed, admiring the sunrise and the blue sea blending together, until another car slowly pulled up beside him.

"Mr. Haruno, here is what you requested."

After getting off the bus, Fujikawa Hosokawa walked up to Harano Tsukasa, bowed, and handed him a bag with both hands.

Haruno Tsukasa took the kraft paper bag and opened it.

Inside was a psychiatric evaluation report. The paper looked slightly yellowed and felt worn from the passage of time. After carefully comparing the name, photo, and date of the report, I put it back in.

"How is she?"

"I was terrified. I may have some mental issues in the short term, but I'm physically fine."

Fujikawa Hosokawa answered respectfully. Since the worst hadn't happened, Harano Tsukasa felt neither happy nor regretful, simply saying:
"Your plane ticket has been booked by someone, and you can leave this afternoon. The money has also been transferred to your daughter's bank account in New Zealand. Please check your account."

"Thank you, Mr. Haruno." Hearing that Haruno Tsukasa had prepared everything for her, she lowered her head even further.

"You don't think I forced you to leave, do you?"

Haruno Tsukasa suddenly asked a question.

Fujikawa Hosokawa paused for a moment, then shook her head after being gestured to stand up. "How could that be? I didn't kill anyone, and I didn't leave any evidence. Even if I was arrested for something I missed, I wouldn't serve more than a few years in prison. My time isn't worth that much money at all."

Having few people around is a minor issue.

Even murder wouldn't be a big problem.

It's not like she hasn't killed someone before.

Moreover, for people in their line of work, it's impossible not to do some dirty and tiring work for their employers.

Such a simple task allowed her to obtain the 1 billion yen promised by Haruno Tsukasa, and the price was to take the money to her daughter's side. This was a good thing that she would never have dared to dream of normally, and there was nothing to complain about.

"But we still took on the risk, didn't we?"

Haruno Tsukasa turned around and said with a smile:

“Although I may not be a good boss, I will not mistreat those who help me. Fujikawa-san is not young anymore, and your daughter is studying alone in New Zealand. I remember when I first met you, I mentioned that I would help your daughter earn tuition fees. What parent in the world would not want their children by their side? So I took the liberty of making this arrangement. Of course, if Fujikawa-san does not want to go abroad, he/she can cancel.”

His words made Fujikawa Hosokawa waver for a second, wanting to stay and continue working, but in the adult world, the principle of prioritizing interests still applies, so she said, "I am ashamed to accept your kindness."

"Go ahead," Haruno Tsukasa said with a smile.

Haruno Tsukasa himself wouldn't touch something like kidnapping and murder, so the only person around him who could take the blame and whom he could barely trust was Fujikawa Hosokawa, who had worked for him from the very beginning.

Things went even more smoothly than expected.

Not only did they not kill anyone, they also got what they wanted. Although the methods were brutal, it didn't matter.

As for whether the other party will retaliate...

Unless she's really courting death.

Looking down at the brown paper bag in his hand again, Haruno Tsukasa pondered for a moment before taking out his phone to call Komatsubara Shun. However, as expected, the phone was switched off. He was probably still locked up at home by his father, so he had to go there in person.

However, when Haruno Tsukasa returned to Komatsu's house, it was empty. He rang the doorbell for a long time but no one answered. He had to visit the neighbor next door to get Komatsu's father's phone number, contact him, and then go to meet him.

This psychiatric evaluation report is of paramount importance.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this could clear Komatsubara Shun's name, since it proved that the girl who committed suicide did not do so because of Komatsubara Shun's oppression.

As for the child in her womb…

Based on the previous discussion, the woman's parents were unwilling to have an autopsy performed. However, if they still want to convict Komatsubara Shun with this evidence, an autopsy must be performed to determine whether the child is actually his.

Based on Haruno Tsukasa's understanding of Komatsubara Shun, he wouldn't be so perverted as to get a girl pregnant and then drive her to the point of suicide. So, it was Shihouin Chiyo's help that was involved. Of course, it's also possible that there were other people who wanted to harm him, but that's not something Haruno Tsukasa should worry about. He should just do what he can and leave the rest to himself.

After helping up Komatsu's father, who had been bowing for several minutes and refused to get up, Harano Tsukasa drove away from Tokyo, heading towards Yokohama.

Upon arriving at the factory, we entered by simply scanning our faces.

I walked toward the office based on my memory of the location.

Yuko Shimizu, who was working at her desk, called out "Come in" after hearing a knock on the door. After a few seconds of no response, she frowned slightly and looked up to see Tsukasa Harano smiling at her. She paused for a moment before exclaiming in surprise, "Tsukasa, what brings you here?"

"Aunt Shimizu," Harano Tsukasa greeted her.

Yuko Shimizu stood up from her office chair, slightly opening her mouth as if to say something, but suddenly seemed to remember something. "Are you here to see Xiaoxi? She's in the office. I'll have someone go and call her..."

"I came here specifically to see you."

Haruno Tsukasa waved his hand to interrupt her.

After speaking, he glanced at the proposal on his desk, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Are you busy right now?"

"Not busy," Yuko Shimizu replied crisply.

"Then let's go for a stroll around Yokohama city. It feels weird to always be in the industrial park," Harano Tsukasa said with a smile.

"it is good."

"I'll drive."

"..."

"..."

Nearly an hour later, Shimizu Yuko looked at Harano Tsukasa, who was scooping up rice like a starving ghost, and sighed slightly. She asked with concern, "Eat slowly. Why are you so hungry? Did you not eat breakfast this morning?"

"I was quite busy yesterday and haven't eaten since last night," Yuan Ye Si mumbled while eating.

After swallowing a mouthful of rice soaked in beef brisket broth, Haruno Tsukasa took a sip of barley tea to clear his throat, put down the cup, and asked, "You know I'm getting married, right?"

“Xiaoxi has already told me.”

"Would you like to participate?"

“Of course.” Shimizu Yuko looked away, brushed a stray hair behind her ear, and said in a softer voice, “I will participate as an elder.”

"You probably won't be happy, will you?"

"You got married, why wouldn't I be happy?"

"really?"

"fake."

“I bought a villa in Setagaya with many rooms. I see that your factory is already operating smoothly. Would you like to find a professional manager to help manage it and move it back to Tokyo from Yokohama?”

"I still prefer to be alone."

"why?"

Faced with Haruno Tsukasa's question, Shimizu Yuko took a deep breath, got up and sat down next to him. She gently took one of his hands and held it with both of her own, and said in a low voice, "I'm not the same kind of person as those kids. If I did what you think, it would only make them uncomfortable, and I'd be living a very repressed life myself. So, like now, when you think of me, just come and find me. I'm already very happy."

“But that’s even more unfair to you.” Haruno Tsukasa also held her hand tightly and wrapped his other arm around her.

“There’s no such thing as fairness in this world. If it were truly fair, I probably wouldn’t even know you. After all, if I had been able to get a loan from the bank smoothly back then…”

"But you're all alone..."

"I can take care of myself, and Xiao Si, haven't you taken good care of me up to this point?"

"Are you really planning to do this?"

"Just like fireworks, a moment of brilliance is meaningful. What's more, the fireworks I set off can still burst into light frequently. I'm very lucky."

(End of this chapter)