157 Reward & Plan 2 in 1 (1/2)

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There was one more thing that Kazuya needed to do before he went back home. Since the competition exhibitions were still ongoing, he decided to grant Kurumi's request and visit the sights in the western prefecture.

Unlike Kazuya, this wasn't Kurumi's first time traveling for leisure so he left her to decide on their agenda until he was able to meet up with Yuriko later that night. He was taken to an amusement part where the supposedly more mature Kazuya unnaturally had a lot of fun.

This had been Kazuya's first time in an amusement park so his curiosity got the best of him. He had a lot of fun watching the different kinds of shows that were unique to the park and was surprised by the different rides that filled him with excitement even with his experiences as a hardened warrior.

While being totally immersed in this new experience, Kazuya had been unaware of Kurumi's nervous yet blissful mood. This was their very first date and she was glad to see the moody Kazuya smiling so naturally. Though she felt sorry for what had happened to Tomoyo, Kurumi couldn't help but wonder if this would have been possible if nothing had happened to her.

Jonson had always praised Kazuya as a boy that was very mature for his age so Kurumi couldn't wait to tell her father about how he could still act like his age. Though she didn't want this day to end, the sky was slowly starting to get darker, so Kurumi pulled Kazuya towards the ride she looked forward to the most.

The sun had already set when the two finally were able to ride the large Ferris wheel. The two of them sat beside each other and watched the amusement park's lights slowly turn on from above. Though they were not able to see the sunset like she had originally planned, this scene was beautiful as well.

”Ka—” she felt Kazuya's arms slowly wrap around her waist so her face immediately began to feel hot.

Kurumi had frozen in place thinking what was going to happen next. Though this was a situation that she wanted to happen, she never expected for Kazuya to make a move on her. Mustering up her courage, Kurumi turned to his direction.

”ssuu… ssuu…” Kazuya moved his head and leaned his chin on her shoulder and his breath directly reached her ears.

”K-k-kazuya-kun…” Kurumi felt like she would have already melted on her seat if the arms around her waist wasn't holding onto her tightly enough.

Due to Kurumi losing the strength to sit up straight, Kazuya's head had landed on top of her chest. She panicked as she felt his breath through her clothes and thought that this wasn't the right place to do that kind of thing for the first time.

Afraid that he might be mad at her for her rejection, she hesitantly pulled back his head from her chest. It was at that moment that she realized what was actually happening.

”ssu…” silently breathing, Kazuya's eyes were closed as he had fallen asleep.

”Really…?” Kurumi looked sullen for a moment before realizing back at what Kazuya told her and her father when he made his request.

He had travelled back and forth, after hearing about what happened to Shiroyuki Tomoyo. Though he didn't specify why it was so urgent for him to have returned, the fact that he had no time to rest made Kurumi feel a little guilty. Kazuya wasted no time and gave her a lecture due to her father's request after all.

”You may have already lost your memories but… you're still the reckless boy who always thinks about others more than himself deep inside.” Kurumi smiled as she brushed his hair with her fingers. He had taken her out to play instead of taking a long-needed rest so Kurumi couldn't help but feel touched. Even though she wasn't the closest person to him like before, being treated as a friend was a lot better than being ignored like a stranger.

”Teacher may think that I'm exaggerating whenever I tell her how amazing you are but I'm sure that she will be thrilled to meet you.” Kurumi took out a small pouch and placed some of the hair that stuck to her hand carefully inside.

Kurumi took out her phone and asked the bodyguards that remained on the ground to stall their ride for a little bit. She wanted Kazuya to have a little rest before she eventually had to wake him up.

When the ride finally moved, Kazuya's hold on her softened as soon as it neared the ground. Kurumi giggled to herself and figured that even though he was asleep, he was still very vigilant on his surroundings. It made her feel happy that her presence was already accepted as someone safe from his subconscious.

”hmm? I fell asleep?” Kazuya was surprised that he was able to fall asleep under such conditions that he failed to realize that he had jumped up from hugging Kurumi in his short nap.

”You should have told me you were tired Kazuya-kun…” she spoke while trying to hide her own embarrassment. She didn't want him to know about what he did in his sleep. ”We could have rested until you could meet the person you were waiting for.”

”It's alright. Rather, I have to thank you instead. I enjoyed our time here.” Kazuya said as he escorted her off the ride.

”hehe” Kurumi giggled. ”We can always have fun like this again.” Kurumi was extremely happy. Though she still felt a bit embarrassed, hearing that Kazuya enjoyed himself made this trip worth it.

”It will be quite the tight schedule for the next few months. You will understand why once we meet the person.” Kazuya checked his phone and read through his messages. ”Would you mind if we brought along another person on the way back?”

”Who is it?” Kurumi didn't ask who the person Kazuya needed to meet before going back.

”A police officer whose help I would need to set things straight.”

-

Yuriko finished her duties as one of the competitions judges. The judges participated in a meeting after the exhibitions were over. The meeting had been with the members of the association and they discussed the various participants who have shown quite the amount of skill to be considered as participants in the international youth competition.

Though she initially wanted to meet with Kazuya after his match, she still had her duties to perform. Yuriko was invited to be a judge in the following competition for the main division but she declined. She had already fulfilled her purpose in coming here after all.

”Hmm?” Yuriko saw several silhouettes approaching. Her eyebrow twitched as soon as she saw Kazuya standing in the middle of the female bodyguards with a cute girl with blonde hair.

Kazuya asked to meet her near the private hangars at the airport so she thought that he wanted to discuss about sensitive topics. She didn't expect him to come with some young lady who she could immediately recognize.

”(The princess of Stockton industries huh… this boy sure has some skills…)” though Yuriko didn't know why, she suddenly felt very irritated. She initially wanted to praise him for his stellar performance earlier in the day but now she wanted to shout at him for being reckless.

”I apologize for the wait Yuriko-san.” Kazuya immediately apologized.

Kurumi's bodyguards with the exception of their leader had dispersed into the hangar to make preparations for their departure. She didn't speak when Yuriko approached because Kazuya had already told them about the additional passenger.

”So why did you ask to meet me here? Are you going to introduce me to your little girlfriend now?” she crossed her arms and tapped her shoe on the floor.

”Oh right! My apologies. This is my friend, Stockton Kurumi. Kurumi, this lady here is a detective, Sanada Yuriko.” Kazuya briefly introduced them. ”It's a long story that I'll tell you about in a bit. She will be giving us a ride back home in her family's plane.” He explained.

”A ride back…” Yuriko was taken aback by how casually he stated it. It was only now that she had been reminded that although he didn't seem like it from the way he acted, this kid was a young master in his own right. ”W-why do I have to ride back with you?”

”Don't you want to know what's the secret behind Shiroyuki Tomoyo's attempted assassination?” Kazuya's gaze narrowed as she looked at Yuriko seriously.

”You know who's behind it!?” Yuriko almost leapt at him after hearing that.

”We can talk about that once we've boarded the plane. For now, take this.” He took out a cannister like object from his bag and and handed it to Yuriko. ”Gently pull it apart from top to bottom.” He instructed.

When Yuriko did as she was instructed, she was surprised to see a transparent sheet that reminded her of glass come out from the middle of the two ends. It lit up like a screen as soon as it couldn't go any further which almost made her drop it in surprise.

[Authorization Required] was printed on the screen.

Kazuya placed his palm on it and some files were immediately shown. It showed the compiled transactions between the Kuroganes and the owner of the facility which once held Shiriharu Kira.

”This thing is…” Yuriko was still in a daze.

”I'll begin the explanation once you've read through them. I believe it will be easier after you've seen those.” Kazuya smiled as he and Kurumi moved to enter the hangar.

”No! I mean what is this device in my hand!? I haven't seen anything like this!” Yuriko wasn't the only one who was curious, Kurumi's eyes also glittered a soon as she saw the device light up but she had been waiting for Kazuya's explanation.

”Oh…” Kazuya scratched his head. ”That's one of the prototypes of the product that will be released soon. It works just like a tablet would with a bit of new features.”

He forgot about the fact that he had been using an unreleased product but that shouldn't be the point right now. Kazuya silently praised his elementary teacher whose words once again proved to be true.

They entered the plane where Kazuya took some time to answer Kurumi's questions about the device he brought. He made them promise not to tell anyone about such a thing or he would get in trouble with Kyouko and the company.

”This…” Yuriko couldn't help but look at Kazuya in shock. This evidence was extremely helpful! Not only that, this would give doubt to the philanthropist who has been rumored to have been slowly falling into debt. ”Are you saying that this was started by the Kurogane clan?” one thing was missing and it was motive. The Shiroyukis although allied with the Kouzuki family was just an ally. The two families were currently at peace with Kazuya so none of this made sense.

”If you're looking to ask why they would do such a thing, This is where it gets a little complicated.” Kazuya began the story with the conditions Tenma had set-up before he was allowed to go back home. It was soon followed by the measures that were taken to prevent him from coming back to make Yuriko understand just how much Tenma wanted him to lose his identity as a Kouzuki.

”Wouldn't that only make it harder for them to eat the Kouzuki corporation?” Yuriko raised a point.

”The problem is, my mother would never allow it to happen. She would much rather let the Kouzuki clan lose their illustrious reputation for being unable to break a promise. This is what I think he is really after.”

”But why did you suddenly have to return back?” Yuriko asked.