Seeing Kaoru Tohsaka's actions, Ichiro Takayanagi was a little surprised—he hadn't expected her to actually take the item with her. Still, it didn't matter; the most valuable thing in the basement was already in his hands.
"Yes, let's go," Ichiro said, leading Kaoru out of the basement.
Once outside, Kaoru bid him farewell and returned to her own room. After all, they had spent much of the night searching the estate, and now she had a strange item with her—something she could examine at her leisure.
Ichiro headed to the mourning hall, where Reika Tohsaka was still kneeling. When she saw him, she asked, "Ichiro, did you find the family's loan records?"
"They're all here." Ichiro lifted the bundle in his hand to show her.
"Where did you find them?"
"In that basement."
Hearing his answer, Reika's expression shifted with realization. "If it's that place, then yes… that pervert would definitely hide the loan records there." Her cheeks flushed slightly, as if remembering something.
She then stood, dimmed the lights in the mourning hall, and walked over to him. "Ichiro, I have something to ask of you."
"What is it?"
"Please don't drive me and Kaoru out of the Takayanagi household. We wouldn't survive on our own."
"No one is trying to drive you out."
"No—if you inherit the position of head of the family, you won't stay here at the main estate. When you leave, others will take the chance to lord over us. The only one who can protect us is you."
Ichiro considered her words and found them reasonable. After seeing the equipment and tools in the basement, he understood that Reika's standing in the family was low. If he left for Tokyo, she and Kaoru might very well be thrown out.
"Fine. But Kaoru will have no claim to inherit the Takayanagi family in the future."
"Kaoru and I aren't even Takayanagis by blood. She has no claim anyway." Reika agreed without hesitation—following Ichiro closely was the best choice for both of them.
"Then it's settled. Once matters here are resolved, Kaoru can come with me to Tokyo."
The arrangement was clear. But then Reika suddenly knelt in front of Ichiro and said, "This matter isn't quite settled yet."
"What…?" Ichiro didn't finish the question—he already knew what she meant. And he didn't stop her.
…
Back in her room, Kaoru took out the instruction sheet again, reading it one more time before washing the pink toy. Unfortunately, she still didn't have the courage to try it.
She thought of asking her mother for advice. Reika was an adult, and surely knew more about such things.
But when Kaoru went to her mother's room, it was empty. Even the bathroom was vacant.
After wandering through the main house, she finally noticed something strange at the mourning hall.
Last night, even when everyone had left, the hall had been brightly lit, warding off any sense of fear.
Tonight, however, the lighting was dim—more like a bedroom lamp—giving the space an unsettling feel.
Cautiously, Kaoru approached the doors and peeked through the gap. What she saw inside made her eyes widen in shock.
But she clamped her hand over her mouth to keep from making a sound.
Her thoughts were a mess, but from snippets of conversation between her mother and Ichiro, she could tell neither was forcing the other.
More importantly, over the past two days Reika had drilled into her that they would have to rely on Ichiro from now on—one reason Kaoru didn't break the moment.
Just then, her mother's short, stifled voice came from inside, and Kaoru quickly stepped away from the door. She thought she saw Ichiro glance back toward it.
Returning to her room, Kaoru felt something unlike anything she'd experienced in over ten years. Clutching the toy, she finally made up her mind to use it.
(End of Chapter)
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