"Good."
Tetsuhiro hung up his phone and placed it on the table, leaning back in his leather chair. He stared out the window, looking down at the Tokyo metropolis. From his vantage point, he could see the buildings stretch out into the distance.
His eyes were stern, yet he looked rather tired.
"I'm sorry Daichi, but you'll have to suffer for a while…" He muttered.
As he was deep in thought, he heard the sound of a knock on his office door.
"Mr. Suzuki, there's a Mrs. Koga here to see you. She says she has an appointment?"
The woman looked rather afraid to interrupt the man, however thankfully he seemed to be in a decent mood this time.
"Let her in." He stated.
A few moments later, Sachiko arrived into the office wearing a dress that made her stand out in an office environment. Her assets were on display, though the man seemed uninterested in her body.
Without waiting for an invitation, she took a seat in one of the comfy chairs in front of the desk before leaning back and crossing her legs.
"I did what you asked." She stated nonchalantly.
"Yes, I just got word. Very good." Tetsuhiro said simply, swinging his chair and facing her.
As Sachiko met his gaze, she couldn't help but feel a sense an oppression. She could feel the intense disdain behind the man's eyes as he looked at her with barely hidden disgust.
Sachiko could tell that he would discard her in an instant if it wasn't for her son. Her instinct built up from years of working within shady establishments warned her not to push the man in front of her.
"I… I just came along to collect your end of the bargain." She said, trying to remain calm.
A ferocious light flickered past Tetsuhiro's eyes for a moment, causing her to shiver subconsciously. For a moment, it felt like she was being stared at by a wild beast, capable of crushing her within an instant.
Thankfully, the feeling disappeared a moment later. Yet Sachiko trusted her instincts.
'This man is dangerous…'
Tetsuhiro slowly stood up from his desk without a word, moving towards one of the cupboards at the edge of his office.
Sachiko watched as he opened the door, hearing a few beeps from what she assumed was a safe.
A few moments later, Tetsuhiro returned with some large wads of cash. He sent a glance to the woman on the chair before throwing it onto his desk, as if it meant nothing to him.
"20 million yen. Take it and see yourself out."
With that, he sat back down on his chair and faced the window.
Feeling that the man's patience was wearing thin, Sachiko swiftly got up from her chair and grabbed the money spread out on the desk. In anticipation for this payday, she'd brought a large purse.
However, with the vast amount of money in front of her, she struggled to fit it all into the bag.
"Tch."
Sachiko almost jumped in fright as she heard the man click his tongue. She quickly grabbed the remaining money and stashed it in her bra before quickly leaving the office before the man changed his mind.
It wasn't until she got into the elevator that she breathed out a sigh of relief. Dealing with the powerful man had shaved a few years off her lifespan.
Back in the office, Tetsuhiro waited for a few minutes before reaching for his phone and dialing a number.
"She's just left."
Without waiting for a response, he ended the call and placed the phone back down on the table. He let out a small sigh before turning his attention back to his computer.
***
Ken spent the rest of the week completing his form training with Coach Hanada after club practice. He was really starting to see some results, giving him even more motivation to continue.
His Grandpa even commented on how much his form had improved after Ken had demonstrated for him. It was a given that Mark would be invested in Ken's progress, since he was the one who pointed out the flaws to begin with.
"When will Daichi be here?" Ken asked his parents as they once again sat around the dining table.
"He should be here at any moment." Yuki answered with a soft smile.
Knock Knock Knock
"Ah, that must be him!" Ken exclaimed, getting up from his seat swiftly and heading towards the door.
"Dai—"
However, as Ken opened the door, he saw two policeman, one male and one female waiting outside.
"Is this the Takagi residence?" The male officer asked, his tone serious.
"Y-Yes."
For some reason, Ken felt a pit of dread in his stomach. His thoughts moved to his brother who had yet to arrive home just yet, causing his anxiety levels to rise.
"Is this the current residence of Daichi Takagi?"
Ken felt his strength leave his body, fearing the worst.
"Hello? What is this about?" Chris asked, appearing behind his son with a concerned expression.
"Sir, is this the residence of Daichi Takagi?" The male officer repeated.
Chris was able to remain calm and answer affirmatively, though his nervousness was visible.
"Dad? What's going on? Why are their policeman here?" A voice called out from behind the officers, the breath coming out raggedly.
"Daichi!?"
Ken felt his spirits surge in that moment. If it weren't for the officers blocking him, he would have run out and embraced his brother in that instant.
At the mention of the person they were looking for, the officers turned their attention to Daichi who was behind them.
"Can I go inside?" Daichi asked, his face filled with confusion. He looked at Ken and his father, though they seemed just as confused as him.
"Are you Daichi? The son of Sachiko Koga?" The female officer queried him.
Daichi's face stiffened as he answered, "She's my biological mother yes…"
"We have some bad news I'm afraid. Your mother was the victim of a robbery and has tragically lost her life. I'm sorry."