"I'm home."
Pushing open the door of the shabby apartment, Togawa Sakiko, just back from the instrument shop, greeted the empty home as she always did. And what she received in return was the same silence as always.
More than a month had passed since her father left on his own. In that time, he hadn't contacted her at all, and his phone was always unreachable. In the beginning, Sakiko would persistently try to call him every day, but now, she had long since given up on such a useless effort.
She now had something to lean on that allowed her to hold her head high, a goal and a hope to strive for. Even if he really did disappear for good and leave her to bear the Togawa family's debt all by herself, she would never give up—
"...Hm?"
Just as Sakiko was about to put down her bag and begin her daily design practice as usual, a very obvious change in the room immediately caught her attention.
"Father's wardrobe... why is it open?"
Although they lived in the same apartment, all of Sakiko's clothes were kept separate from her father's.
On one hand, it was out of a young woman's sense of propriety; on the other, it was naturally because she didn't want her clothes to reek of her father's alcohol.
But now, her father's inexplicably open wardrobe instantly put Sakiko on high alert.
The first possibility that came to mind was a burglar. After all, this was an old, dilapidated apartment building, and its security measures were practically non-existent.
Thinking of this, she quickly took out her phone, ready to call the police. However, when she got closer to the wardrobe and took stock of what was missing, she found that only a few of his old, frequently worn clothes were gone. Other than that, nothing else in the house was missing, including the huge sum of prize money Chihaya Tetsuya had given her, which she kept at home.
"...He came back?"
Reaching this conclusion, Sakiko was stunned for a moment before closing the wardrobe door with a hint of relief.
Knowing her father was safe and sound did put her mind at ease somewhat, but thinking about how he wouldn't even send her a single message despite coming home to get clothes, she couldn't help but complain.
"You could at least let me know you're okay... that damned old man."
As his daughter, she naturally understood her father's character.
Even as a failure cast out by the Togawa family, he wasn't a completely useless waste of space. In fact, it was quite the opposite; he had once been a multi-talented genius. In addition to dabbling in economics, music, and art, he was also fluent in both English and French. It was precisely because of these talents that he had earned the right to marry into the Togawa family...
It was just a pity that these same talents, which had given him a chance to soar to the heavens, had also led him to naively and arrogantly make that one wrong decision. After a disastrous failure, he was not only kicked out but also saddled with a massive debt, becoming an indentured servant for life.
The heavy blow and the fall from grace caused the man to sink into a depression that required him to drown his sorrows in alcohol. During that dazed year, Sakiko had once thought he would waste away the rest of his life like this.
However, on that day, his act of returning the envelope had reignited a sliver of hope in her heart. He hadn't accepted his daughter's one-sided gift, nor had he continued to mope around at home. It seemed he hadn't given up completely yet. It seemed he still had one last shred of his own resolve and pride.
It was just a guess, but during this period of no contact, he was likely working hard at something he didn't want to reveal to his daughter... but even so, a basic message to say he was safe should be fine, right? Even just leaving a note would have been enough!
...
Or perhaps, this change in the wardrobe was his way of leaving her a little hint?
"...No, no, no matter what, he shouldn't be that awkward, right?"
Sakiko shook her head, dismissing the overly ridiculous and childish guess.
"In any case... I'm not going to just wait here for him forever."
If her father continued to hide from her like this, then she would just be like Mutsumi and move into Tetsuya-kun's house for good, then cut off all contact. Let's see if he takes the initiative to contact her then!
Just as Sakiko was muttering this in her heart, her phone suddenly rang.
When she took it out and saw the caller ID, she was startled at first, then quickly pressed the answer button.
"Good evening, Minami-san."
She never expected Mori Minami to suddenly contact her at this hour.
Could it be because of Mutsumi? But she usually communicates directly with Tetsuya-kun or Mutsumi herself.
What could be the reason?
[Mhm, good evening, Sakiko.]
Minami's voice, which carried a certain pressure just by listening to it, came from the receiver.
[You're not at work or in class right now, are you?]
"Ah, that's right."
Sakiko answered truthfully.
"I just got home."
[You're certainly working hard.]
It was now nine o'clock at night. To have just gotten home at this hour was proof enough of how packed Sakiko's schedule was.
[Has your father still not returned home during this time?]
"Ah... about that..."
Hearing Minami's question, Sakiko glanced at the wardrobe in front of her again before answering.
"He probably came back once today, but he just took a few articles of clothing."
[Probably...? From the sound of it, you didn't actually see him?]
"That's right. Ever since he left, I haven't even spoken a word to him, let alone seen him."
A hint of dissatisfaction crept into Sakiko's voice unconsciously.
"He won't even reply to a single one of my text messages."
[So that means, even you don't know what he's been up to lately...]
Minami pondered for a moment before speaking again.
[If that's the case, then I think I need to tell you something very important... Your father recently paid off a full quarter of the Togawa family's debt in one go.]
"...A quarter!?"
Sakiko cried out in alarm.
Recalling the nine-figure debt, she responded in disbelief.
"H-how is that possible? My father couldn't possibly have that much money!"
[Mhm, I thought so too. Especially knowing he wasted nearly a year doing nothing, the origin of this huge sum is even more suspicious.]
Minami's voice was also filled with confusion and bewilderment.
[That's why I called you so suddenly to ask about his recent movements. But, since you don't know either, it can't be helped. In any case, there's one piece of good news I have to tell you. Sakiko, as of today, you are completely free.]
"...Eh?"
The information was so far beyond her expectations that Sakiko's expression went blank.
"Free? Wait, what does that mean, Minami-san?"
[When that man made the payment, he negotiated with the Togawa family. He hoped to repay this debt, which you should never have had to bear, in your name. As long as the Togawa family agreed, he guaranteed he would pay off all the remaining debt within the next year.]
Minami explained.
[The Togawa family accepted his terms. From today onwards, they will no longer trouble you because of your father's affairs. You can return to the Togawa family at any time... and resume your original life as the Togawa family's young lady.]
"..."
Hearing this, Sakiko fell silent.
Minami was not the type to joke, especially not about something so serious that concerned her entire future. This meant... her father had really, in just one short month, paid off a quarter of the debt and used it to buy back her freedom from the Togawa family...
She stared blankly at the small, dim room, then at the piece of clothing hanging not far away, one of the few she had brought from her family home.
The relief of no longer having to struggle to make ends meet, the liberation from the anxiety of debt, and the freedom to devote herself wholeheartedly to what she wanted to do—it was all right in front of her. She would no longer have to live like this, under immense psychological pressure and a sense of urgency, forcing herself to pour all her time into work and study. She could be with Chihaya Tetsuya in a more open and dignified way.
This was the meaning behind Minami's words.
Everything she had dreamed of had just inexplicably arrived within arm's reach.
Except—
"I'm sorry, Minami-san."
Sakiko took a deep breath, then said in an incredibly resolute tone.
"Until I find out where this money came from... I can't just accept his high-handed decision!"
She did intend to return to the Togawa family, but absolutely not in this unclear, unexplained way!
And... to raise such a huge amount of money in a month, no matter how you looked at it, was far too suspicious.
For Sakiko, who had already entered society and had actual work experience, she was highly skeptical of the source of this money, and she grew even more worried about her father's whereabouts.
[Mhm... I knew you'd say that.]
Faced with Sakiko's resolve and rationality, Minami's tone held absolutely no surprise.
[Therefore, I will now focus on investigating that man's movements. You should also pay close attention. Since he came home once, he might come back a second time. If you see him again, you must find out the source of that money. If it really is ill-gotten wealth, then you must stop him at all costs before he makes a grave mistake.]
"I understand!"
Sakiko agreed without hesitation, but then a new question arose in her mind.
"But, he left for a month without saying a single word to me. Even if I try to stop him, will he really listen to me?"
[I think he will. If there's anyone in this world he still cares about, it can only be you.]
Minami said with absolute certainty in response to her hesitation.
[Otherwise, he wouldn't have been in such a hurry to use that money to buy back your freedom first. But... this is no laughing matter. I always knew he was an impractical and overly ambitious idiot, but to go to such lengths to get you back...]
At this, Minami sighed, then continued.
[Anyway, that's all I know. If I find out anything about that man, I will notify you immediately.]
"...Yes."
Sakiko nodded heavily.
"Thank you... thank you very much for your concern, Minami-san."
[It's nothing. I'm just doing what an adult should do.]
With that, without any further pleasantries, Minami hung up the phone. Sakiko also lowered her phone. She stared at the wardrobe in front of her for a long time before muttering under her breath.
"What on earth are you doing... you damned old man..."
Because her father's talents were so wide-ranging, Sakiko couldn't even begin to guess what kind of work he was qualified for. But given the connections he had made back in the Togawa family, it was most likely something related to overseas business or the arts.
"Just narrowing it down isn't enough... I have to know exactly what his job is now."
Thinking of this, she immediately opened her phone's search engine and typed in "overseas" and "art" as keywords.
And of course, trying to find a precise answer from such a vague search was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
"..."
Knowing she was just wasting her time, Sakiko put down her phone and slumped to the floor in a daze.
A father who left without a word, a huge sum of money from an unknown source, and a freedom that was within reach... yet shrouded in mystery.
What was she supposed to do now? Contact the Togawa family and ask for more details about her father? Or just go to the police?
If she didn't do something, would her father really, as Minami had said, make an irreversible mistake?
The anxiety born from the unknown threw the not-yet-adult girl into an unprecedented state of confusion.
After closing the browser with a blank expression, she almost instinctively opened her contacts and looked at the first name that caught her eye...
If it's Tetsuya-kun, can he... like before... continue to guide my way forward and give me the encouragement I need most right now?
Even with this completely clueless, dead-end puzzle, can he still solve my doubts as he always does?
Just as Sakiko's mind was racing, the person on the other end of the line seemed to hear her thoughts and suddenly called her.
And with the abrupt ring and vibration came the voice she most wanted to hear at this moment.
[Sakiko, do you have time right now? There's something I want to discuss with you.]
Hearing that gentle voice, as always, Sakiko felt her incredibly agitated heart instantly calm down...
"...What a coincidence."
Sakiko held the phone to her ear with both hands and spoke in a tone as if she had just been saved.
"I also have something important to talk about with you, Tetsuya-kun... But you go first."
Then, just as Sakiko was about to listen to what he wanted to discuss, he instead picked up on the word she rarely used—"important"—and the unusual tone in her voice.
[For Sakiko, something 'important' that you need to 'discuss' with someone?]
Tetsuya's voice paused for a moment, followed by the sound of rustling paper and the clatter of a pencil and other objects falling to the floor.
[Wait a moment, Sakiko. Where are you right now?]
Stunned, Sakiko replied.
"Eh? I-I'm at home..."
[Got it. Let me see... give me twenty minutes. I'm on my way.]
"Eh?!?!?!"
Hearing his words, Sakiko shot up.
"Wait, Tetsuya-kun, we can just talk on the phone, you don't have to come over—"
[Anon, I'm heading out for a bit! Not sure when I'll be back tonight!]
"Tetsuya-kun? Are you listening to me? Tetsuya-kun?"
[Just wait for me, okay, Sakiko? I'm calling a taxi now.]
"Listen to what I'm saying!"
[Something that would make you specifically say you 'need to discuss' it with me is definitely not some small matter you can explain over the phone! And your voice doesn't sound right either!]
Tetsuya's tone was filled with a forcefulness that Sakiko couldn't refuse.
[Anyway, just wait for me. I'm calling a taxi!]
With that, ignoring her objections, he immediately hung up the phone. It seemed he was already hailing a cab...
"...Huh?"
The sudden turn of events didn't even leave Sakiko's confused mind time for self-pity.
The roller-coaster of a situation gave her a surreal feeling, as if she were in a dream.
However, fifteen minutes later, the sound of hurried footsteps came clearly from outside her door. When she opened it, she saw Chihaya Tetsuya standing there, panting.
"I'm here, Sakiko."
The apartment corridor, which was close to the street, had no lighting, only the faint glow of a distant streetlight.
But even so, the light reflecting off him and into her eyes was as bright and warm as the summer's morning sun.
Just like the night she first met him.
Though he looked a bit disheveled, Tetsuya tried his best to speak in as calm a voice as possible.
"This time, I'm not going to leave you any room to put on a brave face all by yourself."