Tokyo, the shady intelligence of private detectives

When Mrs. Yayoi is mentioned, Masahiro Hanyu immediately thinks of her former profession.

After all, what Takizawa Reika is doing is a case of a daughter following in her mother's footsteps, which naturally leads to speculation.

Satsuki Yui looked at him. "Yes, Mrs. Yayoi has run away from home."

"If Yuzuru-kun has no objections and is willing to accept this commission, I will contact Director Takizawa now."

He has to accept the commission, of course; given his current situation, he is not qualified to choose who to commission.

Did Mrs. Yayoi leave home because she couldn't accept that her daughter was doing her former job?

"President, please get in touch. I will do my best."

Satsuki Yui picked up the phone on her desk and spoke earnestly with Takizawa Reika.

She put down the phone. "Hanyu-kun, Director Takizawa means you need to go to her house to understand the situation and facilitate the investigation."

When Masahiro Hanyu decided to meet with Reika Takizawa alone, he was somewhat wary, remembering the incident at the Romantic Hotel.

Yui Satsuki noticed his hesitation. "Director Takizawa requires that we talk in person before he can formally commission you."

"I've arranged the time, one o'clock in the afternoon!"

Takizawa Reika's house was visited by Hanyu Masahiro when he was tracking her. It's a four-story residential building near Sugamo Station in Toshima Ward.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Masahiro Hanyu knocked on the door precisely on time.

The person who opened the door was Takizawa Reika. She was wearing a sky-blue halter dress and light makeup. Her features were still fresh and beautiful, but she looked a little haggard.

I don't know if it was because of the hard work or the influence of Mrs. Yayoi leaving home.

Reika Takizawa bowed politely. "Hanyu-kun, please come in."

His tone was calm, his attitude proper, as if he had completely forgotten the unpleasant experience at the Romantic Hotel.

Upon entering the room, Masahiro Hanyu caught a faint scent of perfume in the air, rich with musk.

These perfumes have the effect of attracting the opposite sex, and Masahiro Hanyu became wary again.

He doesn't feel burdened by anything that happens, but he can't accept being filmed and shown to others.

After sitting down, Reika Takizawa brought over a cup of coffee. Masahiro Hanyu took it and held it in his hand, but didn't dare to drink it.

He secretly turned on the mini recorder he carried with him, just in case.

Takizawa Reika made herself a cup of coffee and sat down opposite him.

"I just wanted to keep the romantic hotel thing a secret from my mother, since she didn't want me to continue in this industry."

"But if that happens, Mr. Yuzuru won't be able to fulfill his request, and I'm truly sorry to have put you in such a difficult position!"

Yuzuru Masahiro's expression was solemn. "Takizawa-san, as long as you don't hold a grudge against me, let bygones be bygones."

Reika Takizawa gently twisted her body and softened her voice, "For my first official appearance, I really wanted to... choose Hanyu-kun."

"I apologize for being so abrupt, as I didn't get Mr. Yuzuru's formal permission!"

Takizawa Reika's expression was sincere, and her eyes held a hint of guilt, which stirred something in Yuzuru Masahiro's heart.

Director Takizawa's acting skills seem to have improved again.

Her actions and words, her eyes, all seemed to be glancing intentionally or unintentionally at the wall on one side of the room.

Masahiro Hanyu recalled the scene at the romantic hotel. Although he didn't find any hidden cameras, he still had to be extra careful.

This woman really loves taking photos without consent.

Masahiro Hanyu's eyes were clear. "Takizawa-san, how did your mother, Mrs. Yayoi, run away from home?"

Takizawa Reika's eyes held a hint of resentment. "It's because of Yuzuru-kun. You completed the task, and Mom found out what I did that I had kept from her."

"My mother said that now that I have my own career, she is at ease."

"When I finished work and went home, my mother had already left."

"She left a letter that only said she was going to do what she wanted to do and told me not to look for her."

"But Mom's eyes are bad, her vision is blurry, and I'm worried about her."

Masahiro Hanyu looked at Reika Takizawa. "So, Takizawa-san, are you formally entrusting me to find Mrs. Yayoi?"

Reika Takizawa nodded. "Yes, everything in this room is exactly as it was when Mom left, including the scent of her perfume, only it's a little fainter."

"I invited Yuzuru-kun to my home so that you could find clues and find your mother as soon as possible."

A faint light screen appeared before Masahiro Hanyu's eyes.

[Privacy Intelligence Reward System Launched]

[Host Level: 1, can obtain three random pieces of information]

[Identified subject of investigation: Yuko Yayoi]

[Information 1: Yayoi Yuko regularly participates in hot spring/hotel stays]

[Information 2: Yuko Yayoi's favorite song: Oruhi Toto (One Day Suddenly)]

[Information 3: Sendai Edamame Mochi]

"Mrs. Yayoi's full name is Yayoi Yuko, right?" Masahiro Hanyu asked.

"How did you know, Yuzuru-kun?" Takizawa Reika asked, looking somewhat surprised.

She then looked on with a sudden realization, "Oh, I almost forgot, Mom asked Yuzuru to do that before."

"After my mother found out I was an actor, she didn't speak to me all day."

"I was a little worried that she would get too angry, but thankfully she understood me later."

"After all, I love this job, and I will definitely work harder so that one day my mother will be proud of me."

Masahiro Hanyu couldn't comment on Reika Takizawa's career aspirations; he was more concerned with the information provided by the intelligence agency.

The first piece of information is that hot spring/hotel group stays are a popular form of gathering in this era, and are considered private gatherings for close-knit relationships.

"Takizawa-san, does Mrs. Yayoi enjoy attending hot spring retreats regularly?"

"Do you know where she usually goes to parties and with whom she does so?"

Reika Takizawa's expression turned surprised again. "Hanyu-kun, you only just accepted the commission, and you already know my mother's preferences?"

Of course, Masahiro Hanyu couldn't tell her that he had an intelligence network. "When investigating Takizawa-san, President Satsuki had some brief communication with Mrs. Yayoi."

Reika Takizawa crossed her legs and twisted them into an arc, which is probably a habit she has developed from her long-term yoga practice.

"My mother usually goes to the hot springs at the foot of Mount Takao, and the people who attend the gatherings are all her friends from when she was an actress."

It turned out to be a gathering of retired AV actors, and images involuntarily surfaced in Masahiro Hanyu's mind.

Have they been having any gatherings lately?

Reika Takizawa adjusted the arc of her legs' twist. "Yes, there's a gathering tomorrow at Gokurakuyu Onsen in Takaoyama."

"But I've already asked, and Mom has told her friends that she's not going."

Regarding the second piece of information, "One Day Suddenly" is a love duet song that was very popular in Japan in the 70s.

Many people who lived through that era like it. There's no need to inquire about this information for now.

"Sendai edamame mochi, does Mrs. Yayoi like to eat it?" Masahiro Hanyu felt it was necessary to ask the third piece of information.

Takizawa Reika was taken aback. "Edamame mochi! Mom never liked that!"

Why give this information if Mrs. Yayoi doesn't like it? What is its connection to finding Mrs. Yayoi's whereabouts?

With a solemn expression, Yuzuru Masahiro said, "Takizawa-san, in order to find Mrs. Yayoi as soon as possible, I need to ask you for a favor."

"I want to attend the gathering at Gokurakuyu on Mount Takao tomorrow!"