Just as Miyamoto Yumi turned to leave, Kanjuro suddenly spoke. His voice was clear and gentle, like a soft breeze passing over lute strings:
"Officer, since we've met by chance, and you are a friend of Senior Hideyoshi and Masumi, why don't you join us for dinner? It will be livelier with more people."
His invitation was natural and appropriate, accompanied by a smile that felt like a spring breeze washing over people. His deep eyes focused intently on Miyamoto Yumi, seemingly possessing some invisible magic.
Miyamoto Yumi stopped in her tracks and turned back, slightly surprised. She did indeed have patrol duties, but looking at Kanjuro's incomparably handsome face and his sincere (seeming) smile, the words of refusal stuck in her throat. That inexplicable familiarity surged up again, but this time, it was mixed with an indescribable flutter of excitement at being invited by such an outstanding man.
Seeing this, Shuichi Akai, though still in awe of Kanjuro, was happy to facilitate and quickly chimed in: "Yes, Miss Yumi, please join us! You should be nearing your shift change anyway, right? Didn't you say that Grilled Fish Set Meal at that place was delicious last time?"
Sera Masumi's internal alarm bells were ringing loudly. Instinctively, she did not want Officer Yumi to interact too much with the dangerous presence that was Kanjuro. But in front of Kanjuro, she dared not show any objection, so she could only lower her head, concealing her uneasy expression.
Miyamoto Yumi hesitated, looking at the eager Shuichi Akai, then at the extraordinary Kanjuro with his captivating smile. Finally, as if guided by an unseen force, she nodded, a faint blush even coloring her cheeks: "O-okay... In that case, I'll impose on you. It's almost time for me to get off work anyway."
Her duties? Her reports? They seemed to have been tossed out of her mind for the moment.
Thus, the group of four arrived at the elegantly decorated Japanese Restaurant recommended by Shuichi Akai. Inside the private room, the warm yellow lighting and tranquil atmosphere sealed them off from the outside world.
When taking their seats, Kanjuro naturally took the head seat. Miyamoto Yumi was seated to his left, Shuichi Akai to his right, and Sera Masumi sat opposite Kanjuro. This seating arrangement subtly established Kanjuro as the center of attention, a fact Shuichi Akai didn't notice at all, feeling it was perfectly natural.
Dishes were served one after another, the exquisite cuisine giving off an alluring aroma. During the meal, Kanjuro did not engage in grand discussions; instead, he handed the lead to Akai Hideyoshi and Miyamoto Yumi, playing the role of a perfect listener himself. Occasionally, he would ask one or two perfectly timed questions, guiding the conversation and ensuring the atmosphere remained harmonious.
He chatted with Miyamoto Yumi about interesting anecdotes regarding Tokyo traffic, speaking wittily with unique insights. The details he mentioned, which only insiders would know, greatly surprised Miyamoto Yumi, who simultaneously felt she had met a kindred spirit. Kanjuro's focused gaze while listening and the occasional smile that seemed to see through people's hearts caused Miyamoto Yumi to unconsciously drop her initial vigilance and that strange sense of familiarity, gradually becoming attracted to his charm.
She discovered that this young man named Kanjuro was not only outstanding in appearance but also far surpassed ordinary High School Students in conversation and knowledge. Chatting with him was a very comfortable and pleasant experience.
"Mr. Kanjuro is truly learned, not at all like a High School Student," Miyamoto Yumi couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes showing more admiration and curiosity.
Kanjuro smiled humbly, "Officer Yumi flatters me. It's just that my interests are quite broad, and I've read a lot of miscellaneous books." He appropriately shifted the topic back to Officer Yumi, "It is you, Officer, who deals with various emergencies while maintaining order on the roads every day; that is truly the more difficult job."
The understanding and affirmation in his words made Miyamoto Yumi feel favorably disposed, feeling that her work was being respected.
Watching Kanjuro and Miyamoto Yumi getting along so well, Akai Hideyoshi's admiration for Kanjuro deepened. He felt that Mr. Kanjuro was not only divinely skilled in Go but also so humble and thoughtful in handling social matters—truly a perfect person! He became even more determined in his resolve to follow Kanjuro, actively serving dishes and pouring tea for the two from the side with a respectful demeanor.
Sera Masumi, however, couldn't taste her food. She watched Officer Yumi's eyes, under Kanjuro's "charm offensive," gradually shift from initial confusion and vigilance to softness and admiration, even carrying a hint of undisguised infatuation. Her heart filled with a sense of powerlessness and worry. She knew this was Kanjuro's father's usual trick: first, use a flawless disguise to attract the prey, and then... she dared not think further.
The dinner proceeded in an atmosphere that was outwardly harmonious but inwardly surging with undercurrents. Kanjuro was like the most masterful director, controlling the rhythm of the entire scene. Though seemingly casual, every glance and every word subtly deepened Miyamoto Yumi's favorable impression of him and solidified Akai Hideyoshi's worship.
As dinner drew to a close, Miyamoto Yumi had completely relaxed, looking at Kanjuro with eyes full of light, even carrying a trace of adoration she hadn't noticed herself. That sliver of doubt about feeling'strangely familiar' had long since been thrown to the winds.
"This has been a delightful dinner," Kanjuro raised his teacup, using tea as a toast, and smiled, "Thank you for treating us, Senior Hideyoshi, and thank you for gracing us with your presence, Officer Yumi."
His gaze swept over the three of them, finally lingering on Miyamoto Yumi's face for a moment; those deep eyes seemed to contain a vortex, threatening to draw in one's soul.
Miyamoto Yumi's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly raised her teacup, "No, I should be the one thanking you for the invitation."
Akai Hideyoshi was even more flattered.
Kanjuro knew his objective for the evening had been achieved. The line involving Akai Hideyoshi was firmly in his grasp, and this unexpected piece, Miyamoto Yumi, was already beginning to lean toward him. An eye inside the police department? Perhaps it could be put to use in the near future.
He put down his teacup, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening.
The hunting net is always cast silently and inadvertently. The prey often loses the strength to struggle just as it feels warmth. Miyamoto Yumi, this straightforward traffic police lady, was step by step walking toward the dangerous vortex center she couldn't imagine. And all of this began with a seemingly ordinary dinner. The atmosphere of the dinner seemed harmonious and pleasant under Kanjuro's control, but Sera Masumi's heart felt tightly clenched by an invisible hand. She watched Miyamoto Yumi chatting and laughing with Kanjuro, watching Officer Yumi's originally sharp eyes unconsciously reveal admiration and even a hint of intoxication when looking at Kanjuro. A sour jealousy mixed with panic surged in her heart.
It wasn't that she didn't understand Kanjuro's father's charm, nor did she not know she didn't have the right to monopolize him (the thought of her mother, older sister Akemi, and older sister Ai made her mood even more complicated). But watching another woman, especially a cheerful and bright woman like Officer Yumi, be so easily attracted to Kanjuro and unknowingly approach danger, still gave her an indescribable sense of discomfort and... crisis.
When Miyamoto Yumi was once again amused by Kanjuro's witty remarks into covering her mouth with a light laugh, even subconsciously patting Kanjuro's arm lightly, Sera Masumi finally couldn't hold back, putting down her chopsticks with a slight clatter.
Both Miyamoto Yumi and Akai Hideyoshi noticed her odd behavior. Miyamoto Yumi looked at her with some confusion, "Masumi, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
Sera Masumi lowered her head and said sullenly, "It's nothing."
Kanjuro's gaze also fell upon her, carrying a hint of understanding and undetectable amusement. Of course, he noticed this little cat's jealousy, which he found interesting.
Miyamoto Yumi looked at Sera Masumi, then at Kanjuro, seemed to understand something, and showed a mischievous smile, saying to Sera Masumi half-jokingly, "Oh my, Masumi, don't tell me you're jealous? Don't worry, Officer Yumi and Mr. Kanjuro only have a completely normal friend relationship!" She deliberately elongated the word 'friend' in an attempt to ease the atmosphere.
However, those words sounded particularly jarring to Sera Masumi. A normal friend relationship? How she wished she could have maintained only a 'normal friend relationship' with Kanjuro initially, but it was too late. She didn't reply, just buried her head lower, tightly clenching her fists under the table.
Akai Hideyoshi, although most of his attention was on Kanjuro and Go, also sensed his sister's distress and the subtle atmosphere. He felt somewhat awkward and quickly tried to change the subject, pulling the focus back to the matter he cared about most.
"Mr. Kanjuro!" Shuichi Akai's tone carried urgency and a thirst for knowledge; his body instinctively leaned forward. "What you said at the Dojo earlier, that Shogi has secrets to getting stronger... could you perhaps... instruct me? I really want to know!" His gaze was fervent, as if Kanjuro was the sole guide leading him to the pinnacle of the Shogi Way.
Kanjuro's attention was indeed drawn back. He looked at Shuichi Akai's almost humble look of yearning and sneered internally. Secrets? The essence of strength is the only secret. However, he didn't mind using some ambiguous words to deepen his control.
He elegantly picked up a napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth, his movements unhurried, forming a stark contrast to Shuichi Akai's eagerness.
"Secrets, hmm..." Kanjuro drew out his tone, watching Shuichi Akai hold his breath nervously, before slowly saying, "Indeed, they exist. However, such things are profound and mysterious—better understood than explained in words."
He paused, and under Shuichi Akai's gaze, a mixture of disappointment and expectation, he shifted his focus:
"Moreover, they involve some... 'methods' that are inconvenient to display in front of outsiders."
His gaze swept over Miyamoto Yumi and Sera Masumi in a subtle manner.
Shuichi Akai immediately understood and said excitedly, "I get it! I get it! Mr. Kanjuro, perhaps... we could chat privately? Anytime, anywhere you are free!" In his pursuit of the 'secret,' he completely disregarded everything else.
Although Miyamoto Yumi was curious about Kanjuro, she knew propriety. Seeing this, she smiled and said, "Since it's a secret among you Shogi players, I won't disturb you! I should also get back to change shifts." She stood up, then gave Kanjuro a bright smile, "Mr. Kanjuro, today was very enjoyable. Let's chat again next time!"
Kanjuro returned a gentle smile, "Certainly, Officer Yumi, please take care."
After Miyamoto Yumi left, only Kanjuro, Sera Masumi, and Shuichi Akai remained in the private room.
Sera Masumi kept her head down, her feelings complicated. She was relieved that Officer Yumi had left, yet uneasy that her Brother Hideyoshi was about to fall deeper under Kanjuro's control.
Kanjuro looked at Shuichi Akai, the smile fading from his face, returning to that unfathomable calmness.
"Hideyoshi," he called his name directly, with the tone of someone superior, "To obtain power beyond ordinary people, to see the essence of the Shogi Way, sheer effort is not enough."
"You need to... open a new door."
His voice was low, carrying a mesmerizing power,
"Come find me tomorrow night with Yumi, come to this address."
Kanjuro casually wrote down a hotel room number and handed it to Shuichi Akai,
"Remember, come alone. Do not let anyone know, including... Masumi."
He glanced at Sera Masumi, whose body trembled slightly.
Shuichi Akai took the note as if receiving a priceless treasure, clutching it tightly in his palm, as if holding the key to a new world. He nodded vigorously, his eyes fanatical: "Yes! Mr. Kanjuro! I will be there on time! I absolutely won't tell anyone!"
He was completely dominated by the craving for the 'secret,' ignoring the potential danger hidden in Kanjuro's words, and ignoring his sister's worried and fearful gaze.
Kanjuro watched him with satisfaction. Tomorrow night, he would truly open a door to the 'darkness' for this second son of the Akai Family. And this piece, Shuichi Akai, would be completely grasped in his palm without his knowledge, never to break free.
Dinner ended, and they left harboring their own secrets. Sera Masumi followed behind Kanjuro, looking at the tall back radiating endless chill ahead, feeling only that the road before her was pitch black. And her Brother Hideyoshi was walking resolutely toward that abyss. The next evening, as dusk settled and the city lights began to shine, Miyamoto Yumi had just finished her patrol for the day and was about to change out of her uniform when she received a call from Shuichi Akai. On the phone, Hideyoshi's tone held an irrepressible excitement and mystery, stammering as he requested her to accompany him somewhere to meet someone.
Yumi's heart skipped a beat, immediately connecting it to the unforgettable Kanjuro from last night. She hesitated instinctively; that inexplicable familiarity and vague sense of unease resurfaced. But hearing the near-pious anticipation in Hideyoshi's voice, and his words, "Mr. Kanjuro promised to tell me the secret to becoming stronger and touching the essence of Shogi," she swallowed her refusal.
She liked Hideyoshi. Although this Shogi fanatic was sometimes frustratingly dense, his pure love and dedication to Shogi were precisely what attracted her. She couldn't bear to see him disappointed, and besides... deep down, she was also filled with curiosity about that mysterious Kanjuro. Perhaps she was overthinking things? Mr. Kanjuro seemed so gentle and excellent... "Alright," Yumi finally agreed, her tone carrying a hint of indulgence she hadn't noticed herself, "I'll go with you. But Hideyoshi, if it really involves some secret, will it be inconvenient for me to be there?"
"It's fine!" Shuichi Akai quickly guaranteed, Kanjuro's words, "Come find me with Yumi," echoing in his mind. Although he didn't grasp Mr. Kanjuro's deeper meaning, he assumed there was an arrangement. "Mr. Kanjuro didn't explicitly object, so it should be fine! With you here, I... I feel a bit more at ease too." He mumbled the last part softly, slightly embarrassed.
Yumi's face flushed slightly, and the doubts in her heart were somewhat dispelled by Hideyoshi's rare dependence. "Then fine, where are you? I'll come over right away."
After they met up, Yumi looked at the note with the hotel address and room number clutched tightly in Hideyoshi's hand, and the light in his eyes—a mixture of nervousness, excitement, and aspiration—caused that thread of unease to quietly peek out again. Going to a hotel room? That didn't seem... to align with typical teaching or communication settings. But looking at Hideyoshi, whose mind was completely occupied by the 'secret,' she knew he wouldn't listen to anything she said now.
They arrived at the high-end hotel Kanjuro designated in silence, each preoccupied with their own thoughts. As they ascended in the elevator, Yumi could clearly hear her own accelerated heartbeat. The elevator doors opened onto a hallway carpeted in soft material, silent as if isolated from the world.
Standing before the room door, Shuichi Akai took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
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