51 Weakness (1/2)

.

”Are you sure big sis?” Kazuya appeared calm but murderous intention kept leaking out of his body. he already thought about this but didn't think they would go as far as causing an accident to get rid of him who supposedly had Kurogane blood in him as well.

”It's just a conjecture. I may be biased but I wouldn't doubt if you told me that it was old geezer from the Kurogane's orchestrated it” Mei bitterly smiled. She already noticed the change in Kazuya's mood and was slightly startled.

”I see… I will keep that in mind for the future as well” he calmed down a little. It wasn't that he didn't believe Mei, it was that she had the most reliable opinion aside from Kyouko herself.

He wouldn't be able to tell his mother everything like he just did with Mei because he still didn't know how she would react. It would be good if Mei shared it with his mom of her own volition and he wouldn't take it against her but it was likely that they shared the same opinion about keeping her in the dark.

Either way, he would leave it up to Mei. Unlike everyone else around him, even though he cared a lot for Kyouko, he still hadn't quite gotten to know her as well as everyone did. Even though he was her son, the time he spent with her has been limited compared to everyone else he recognized. Mei who had been by her side longer should be able to judge more accurately if Kyouko needed to know or not.

”Kazu, now that you've told me this, there's something that's been bugging me…” Mei who had already calmed herself suddenly had a realization.

”Hmm? What is it big sis?” He tilted his head.

”About the investment funds… did the lottery numbers come from your dreams of the future as well?” Mei's eyes stayed on his. This was how she would usually look at him if she wanted to tell if he was hiding something. This hasn't changed from his previous life.

”Errr…” Kazuya was caught off guard at the sudden change of topic. Moreover, it was such a topic.

”Your reaction tells me what I need to know” Mei giggled. ”It's still too early for you to try an keep things from your big sis” she triumphantly smiled.

”It's not that accurate at all big sis. The lottery numbers have already varied after I won the first time” he decided to come clean. She was trying to confirm the accuracy of his dream and immediately caught the right method to do so.

”But the remaining money for investment will come from the year end lottery right?”

”Correct. How did you know?” he was puzzled. She had just confirmed how he did it but immediately uncovered his next plan.

”It's simple really. You already showed me where the first investment came from. After hearing what you just told me, it would be the easiest way to get a big amount of money without Kyouko ever finding out”

”But didn't I just say that the numbers from my dream aren't that accurate?”

”That's only because since you've won in the Lucky 7 lottery, history changed. It's only one of the few lotteries we have but the biggest is still the year end lottery. It shouldn't be affected by that”

”You're really amazing big sis” her analysis was very close to his. He couldn't help but admire her more. The Mei he knew from back then was quite the unrestrained slob at home but seeing her working and having discussions like this with her thoroughly impressed him.

”Hehe~ yes, you're big sis is amazing” she was trying to hide the embarrassment she felt. It felt weird that she was affected by someone as young as him but after learning what she already did, her perspective of Kazuya already changed to the point that she herself hadn't realized yet.

”Although I'm confident, there still isn't a hundred percent guarantee that everything will go as my dream did so please don't expect too much” Kazuya wanted to make this clear because he himself didn't want to count on something that could be determined randomly.

”You have a back-up plan in case it doesn't work?” she was surprised. She already thought about it in her head and the current plans they had for the company involved spending a lot more than Kazuya's initial winnings especially when it came to the equipment they needed.

”Of course I do. Although I would like to avoid it, it should be another easy way to get money. Although it would be a lot slower than winning the lottery, it's an easy way to earn quick cash” he grinned.

”Don't tell me you…” after thinking about it for a bit, she realized what he meant after all the hints he had already given.

”It's not a sure thing yet so please rest assured and leave it to me for now” he smiled.

Both of them thought of the same thing and it was 'gambling'. With his knowledge of the future being proven accurate by winning the lottery, even if he only remembered the results of outcomes of major games, betting on them could only be seen by winning smartly.

It was slower than winning the year end lottery but if the effects of him winning the weekly lottery already changed the course of the other lotteries then they both believed that switching to another matter would provide them with a better chance of success.

After finishing the samples given to them, they once again talked to the manager and decided to book the place for the gathering. They picked out the food as well since Mei was impressed by the both the price and quality. It was good business for restaurant and Kazuya was glad that he was able to successfully help his old boss and workplace.

Mei decided to stay for a little while longer and ordered coffee for the both of them. She had another thought that she wanted to discuss with Kazuya now that she already found out what he was hiding.

”Kazu… I know that you've changed a lot because of that dream and although it seems you have a handle on it I think I should tell you something…” Mei appeared both nervous and serious at the same time. She was still hesitant but she decided to talk anyway.

”Hmm?” He had no idea what Mei was going to say. Seeing her anxious was a rare sight so she got his full attention.

”Your dream… or should I say vision seems to be accurate but I don't want you to be consumed by it” She looked straight in his eyes and could see the calm boy being a bit shaken.

”!”

”I can tell from your confidence that you believe that the future you saw as definitely accurate and I agree with you in some aspects but I don't want what you've seen to define you as a person you will turn out to be.

The future you saw was already determined but this is not that place. I want you to understand that it's not only you who care about us. We also care about you. Now that I've found out about this, a lot of questions I've been thinking about have been answered but some worries also arise”

”Big sis…” Kazuya was speechless.

”Seeing you become this mature and composed gives me relief that you can become whatever you put your mind into but I also think that you are losing out. Unlike your old self, you smile a lot less and although you still smile, we can definitely tell that it isn't a genuine one” she spoke from experience.

”I see… a genuine smile huh…” he pondered but still listened intently.

Kazuya had mixed feelings. He was happy to find out that they cared this much about him but also a little frustrated and guilty since he never thought that he was that easy to read. He always thought that he was the one always trying to let them feel reassured so it was a surprise to learn that it went both ways.