Chapter 3: Secrets Unveiled

Isaku couldn’t sleep that night. Her mind raced with thoughts of Keiya Suzuki’s office and the unsettling conversation they had just had. Keiya’s calm demeanor, his assurances, and his almost convincing denials haunted her. But the lingering doubt gnawed at her, refusing to let her rest. She had always trusted Keiya, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized that trust might have been misplaced.

As dawn broke, casting a pale light over the city, Isaku found herself staring out the window of her bedroom, lost in thought. Ryuji had told her not to jump to conclusions, but every instinct screamed that there was more to the story than Keiya was letting on. Was he hiding something? And if so, what was it?

She shook her head, trying to focus. She couldn’t let her emotions cloud her judgment. This wasn’t just about revenge or anger—it was about finding the truth, no matter where it led. Isaku had a responsibility, not only to her father’s memory but to herself, to unearth the hidden layers of deceit that surrounded his death.

The next morning, she gathered her strength and set out for the Takahashi family estate, her mind already processing her next steps. The estate was a sprawling mansion on the outskirts of the city, a place that had once felt like home. Now, it felt like a cage. Every corner held a memory, a question, and perhaps a clue she hadn’t seen before.

“Isaku,” Ryuji said, his voice breaking through her reverie. “We need to stay focused. There’s more to this investigation than just Keiya. We should check the financial records again, maybe dig into your father’s meetings. We might uncover something we missed.”

Isaku nodded, acknowledging Ryuji’s advice. “I’ll go through everything again. But I’m also going to speak to some of the people my father worked with, outside of Keiya.”

Ryuji’s eyebrows furrowed in concern. “Is that really a good idea? Some of them might be involved. It could be dangerous.”

“I know,” she said, her voice firm. “But I need to hear their side of the story. Maybe there’s something they can tell me about my father’s dealings that could shed light on the truth.”

The drive to the family estate was long and silent, with only the hum of the car’s engine filling the space. Isaku stared out of the window, her thoughts consumed by everything she had learned so far and the haunting feeling that she was missing something vital.

Upon arriving at the estate, she was greeted by a familiar face—the family’s longtime butler, Mr. Kawada. He had been working for the Takahashi family for decades, and Isaku had always considered him a trusted figure in her life. But even now, she couldn’t help but wonder what he knew about her father’s final days. Was he hiding anything? She couldn’t afford to leave any stone unturned.

“Miss Takahashi, it’s good to see you,” Mr. Kawada said, his voice warm but tinged with concern. “Is everything alright? I heard about the incident with your father… it’s been difficult for all of us.”

Isaku forced a smile, masking the turmoil within her. “I’m managing, Mr. Kawada. I need your help, though. I’m looking for information on my father’s meetings in the last few months before his death. Anything that might shed light on his dealings or any unusual interactions.”

Mr. Kawada hesitated, his eyes briefly flickering with something that Isaku couldn’t quite place. But then, as if making a decision, he nodded. “I will gather the records for you, Miss Takahashi. But please, be careful with what you uncover. Some things are best left buried.”

Isaku’s heart skipped a beat at his words. What was he trying to warn her about? And why did he seem so uneasy?

“Thank you, Mr. Kawada,” she said, her voice steady. “I appreciate your help.”

As Mr. Kawada left to retrieve the records, Isaku walked through the vast halls of the mansion, each room a reminder of the life she had lost. Her father’s presence seemed to linger in the air, a ghost that haunted every corner. She could almost hear his voice in her mind, offering guidance and reassurance, but that voice had been silenced forever. Now, it was up to her to uncover the truth.

Hours passed, and eventually, Mr. Kawada returned with a stack of documents. Isaku sifted through them carefully, her eyes scanning each page for anything that might stand out. It wasn’t long before she found something—an entry that seemed completely out of place.

It was a meeting scheduled in the final weeks of her father’s life with someone named Haruto Kuroda. Isaku had never heard the name before, and there were no records of any prior dealings with this person. Why had her father arranged a meeting with him so close to his death?

“Ryuji,” she said, her voice low but urgent. “I found something. A meeting with someone named Haruto Kuroda. I need to know who he is.”

Ryuji took the document from her and studied it briefly. “I’ve never heard of him either. But we’ll find out. It’s time to track him down.”

With that, the investigation took a new turn. As they set out to learn more about Haruto Kuroda, Isaku couldn’t shake the feeling that they were closing in on something big. The more questions she asked, the more answers seemed to slip out of reach, like sand slipping through her fingers. But she wasn’t going to stop. Not now.

Isaku knew that with each new discovery, they were one step closer to unraveling the mystery of her father’s death. And with Ryuji by her side, she felt that, together, they could face whatever dangers lay ahead.

To be continued...

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