Chapter Seventeen: Choose Yukina or Touma?

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Rustle, rustle, rustle~
In the brightly sunlit hospital room, Hiroki Uesugi held a small knife, carefully peeling an apple. Muneyuki Uesugi held a book on anatomy in one hand, glancing at it occasionally. From his wandering gaze, it was clear he wasn’t deeply focused on the text.

Both were waiting for the other to speak.

In public, Hiroki Uesugi displayed a devoted paternal affection, showing great joy and sorrow and limitless love for his youngest son, but in private, he was much more restrained.

The relationship between father and son is always awkward; too much closeness feels cloying and unpleasant, while too much distance seems devoid of affection.

“All done, ta-da~” Hiroki finally finished peeling the apple. Proudly, he left part of the peel intact, shaping it into a rabbit with two ears, and handed it to his son. “Haha, after all these years, my peeling skills haven’t declined!”

“Thank you for coming all this way, Father,” Muneyuki forced a smile. “It’s no trouble for me here. Please also trouble Mother.”

“Oh, don’t say that, Setsumaru. Hands are the second life of a doctor,” Hiroki’s expression gradually grew serious. “Next time, don’t take such risks.”

“Father, it wasn’t a fruit knife that cut me. I didn’t mean for it to happen, and no one could have foreseen it,” Muneyuki shook his head with a wry smile, thinking his father accused him of recklessness.

“That’s not what I meant,” Hiroki saw the misunderstanding and shook his head again. The director of the Tokyo Cultural Exchange Center, slightly portly, continued, “I know the other side wielded a kitchen knife capable of piercing the heart. What I mean is, Setsumaru, don’t take such risks. If you get hurt like this, your mother will be heartbroken—she only has you and Chitokumaru.”

Muneyuki was about to reply when Hiroki interrupted, “I’ve been in society much longer than you, son. I know our clan, from Lord Kenshin onward, has upheld righteousness and duty above all else. That’s how I raised you. But I must say, regarding the lower strata of society, as a collective, we must maintain concern and compassion, but individually, we must always be vigilant and keep our distance. This is hard-earned wisdom paid for in blood and lives.”

“There’s an old saying: ‘A child of noble birth should not dangle idly in the hall.’ If you don’t treat life as a trivial matter, then don’t do this again.” Hiroki lowered his head. “We were truly worried when we heard you were injured.”

“Father…” Hearing this, Muneyuki’s eyes sparkled as he lowered his head in acquiescence. “I was just… curious.”

“Curious? What is there to be curious about in a worthless woman obsessed with host clubs?” Hiroki’s face darkened with murderous intent at the mention of that woman. “Given your past interests, there’s no way you’d be interested in such trash.”

“I’m not curious about her,” Muneyuki said. “It’s…”

He told his father the results of his forensic analysis but left out the supernatural elements. “She couldn’t have devised such a sophisticated method to confuse forensic judgment on her own. Someone must have coached her behind the scenes—very likely the host who bought her fifty thousand-yen champagne. I’m curious where a host would gain such specialized knowledge. Has he coached other host addicts before?”

“Perhaps, could it be that Ms. Kurosawa’s death was also orchestrated by that host?” Muneyuki pondered. “The reasons behind it are truly intriguing.”

“You didn’t need to risk yourself, Setsumaru. Given your connections with the police, why not just ask the officers afterward?” Hiroki understood the situation.

“No. From what I know about the police, as long as Ms. Yamada doesn’t confess about that host, they’ll want to close the case quickly. That’s it.” Muneyuki shook his head bitterly. “How can that be justice for the deceased Ms. Kurosawa?”

“To save one person is to save the world, Father. Since this matter has come to me, my sense of justice must be fulfilled!”

“If it ends with Ms. Yamada alone, that’s not true justice. Only by punishing the one who incited the murder behind the scenes will justice be served!”

Hiroki was silent for a long time after hearing his son. Finally, he nodded heavily. “Setsumaru, it seems you have found your own value in work. Then I won’t say more. Just be careful.”

“Oh? Father, you’re not advising me to change departments?” Muneyuki raised an eyebrow.

“Every child becomes an adult through rebellion against his father,” Hiroki returned to his usual optimistic demeanor. “Alright, since you have your own ideas, let’s drop it. Just be careful. Now, let’s change the topic. Your job is stable now. When will you find a girlfriend? I’m turning fifty this year—I want grandchildren!”

“Uh, Father, why suddenly this topic?” Muneyuki felt awkward; he truly had no intention of marrying.

Marriage, a realm where rights are halved and obligations multiply, was not something he dared promise to avoid forever, but at least for the coming years, it was not in his plans.

“You and Chitokumaru are different. You’re a bit better—I know you have women outside. Your brother, though, has never shown interest in women since childhood.” Hiroki sighed in frustration. “By the way, what type do you like? Want me to introduce some? Honestly, those country girls you know—just for fun is fine, but if they want to enter the main family, don’t even think about it.”

“Really?” Muneyuki said casually. “Then I want senior Mai Shirakawa. Father, can you introduce her to me?”

“Nonsense!” Hiroki laughed helplessly. “If you wanted someone else in the entertainment industry, I might find a way—after all, I’m the president of the Keio Alumni Association and the Cultural Exchange Center. But Mai Shirakawa... you know she’s the head of the Kanto Shinto Shrine Alliance! Our family isn’t Mitsui Sumitomo, and you’re no Middle Eastern prince!”

“Then forget it. Maybe in a few years.” Muneyuki said no more.

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“Setsumaru, I understand your personality. For someone like you, a dazzling woman like that might not be suitable.” Hiroki shook his head. “I’ve managed many events and know that women as talented and radiant as her are like black holes—they consume and overshadow the light of everyone around them, dragging them into the abyss. Can you accept that? Being forever forgotten by people who only know you as ‘So-and-so’s husband’?”

“Political elites never choose such women, and neither do noble families—unless she’s willing to quit her career and focus on being a housewife after marriage. But then again, you, Muneyuki Uesugi, with your current status, what right do you have to ask her to retire?” Hiroki calmly stated the harsh truth. “Even if she’s in showbiz, that doesn’t make her inferior. We don’t know how she became the head of the alliance, but the entire Kanto Shrine Alliance obeys her.”

“Your birth doesn’t always represent your true strength, Setsumaru. True power is one’s own.” After stating this cold fact, he softened his tone, fearing to discourage his son. “The Meiji Restoration, the abolition of domains, postwar prohibitions—many noble families declined, some even sold their names... The legacy of ancestors eventually fades. Our family’s current influence isn’t just from Lords Kenshin and Kagekatsu...”

“Because grandfather was a professor at Tokyo University.” Muneyuki interrupted calmly. “His students and old friends are all over Kanto.”

“Good that you understand.”

The conversation ended there. Hiroki confirmed his son was truly fine, then reluctantly left with Tomoko Uesugi, leaving Muneyuki alone.

Muneyuki clenched his fists.

The previous CT scan and medical equipment hadn’t detected the stone in his right hand. This meant the stone was either in a subspace energy state or of a higher order beyond current technology’s detection.

But the red glow during the Aizen Myo-o transformation was noticed by Tanaka and others. Fortunately, the urgency of the situation made them subconsciously forget this odd phenomenon, only mentioning afterward that they saw the walls and ceiling turn red and thought there was a major arterial bleed.

Awakening the power of the Aoki Stone and the manifestation of Ms. Kurosawa’s restless spirit showed this matter was far from over.

Her death was a tragedy. Her strong attachment in life caused her spirit to resist passing on. She became a ghostly presence enhancing the Aizen Myo-o form, granting the ability called “Hardening.”

This was a name Muneyuki himself gave it—simple but easy to remember; he’d think of something better later.

The spirit of Ms. Kurosawa bestowed upon Muneyuki’s hands the power to harden to the strength of metal. Thanks to this manifestation skill, he barely withstood a knife wound, only suffering a superficial cut.

With this skill, his hands can resist ordinary levels of damage; knives, guns, clubs, and such are no match for his iron fists. But against truly hard weapons, “Hardening” can’t stop bullets or diamond drills.

He needed more spirit energy, more manifestation skills.

He took a discarded iron railing bar he had secretly found in the hallway’s abandoned medical equipment, empowered it with his skill, and broke the bandages on his hands. The bar bent instantly into a “U” shape.

Excellent. At least now he could be a street brawler.

Unfortunately, his spirit energy was limited; he couldn’t maintain “Hardening” indefinitely.

It was time to be discharged.

As for his father’s advice about choosing a partner, Muneyuki thought: Isn’t that just about choosing between Yukina Kogiso or Wasa Touma?

Trying to awaken from the dream and look at reality, if the protagonist Haruki were to pair with Yukina, it would undoubtedly be the best choice. They would have all the conventional happiness—love, career, marriage, a big family, societal ties—all good. Yukina would handle all household chores, gentle and virtuous, albeit a bit clingy and emotionally demanding, but easily satisfied after marriage.

In contrast, a union with Wasa might be beautiful, a typical choice for love, but cruel to the protagonist.

Setting aside Yukina’s side, Haruki himself sacrifices much—leaving his familiar homeland, parting with longtime friends, quitting his dream job, and no longer able to reconcile with his mother. In a strange country, he must grit his teeth and fight alone.

Wasa can offer little help; she once said she was a “waste” who only plays piano. Beyond love, she couldn’t support Haruki. In this story, only Wasa truly attains happiness—she has the piano and love, her life complete.

Players generally prefer Wasa because they don’t have to pay this “price.” They only need to click to pursue “true love,” but Haruki must pay dearly, possibly sacrificing all his energy and life to become Wasa’s adjunct.

His father’s words urged him to face reality.

But Haruki can choose—can he really choose?

Muneyuki thought bitterly: I have neither Wasa nor Yukina!

That’s the real reality—why don’t you let me choose then!

----- The line dividing reality from dreams -----

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Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Local Branch, Shiba Police Station.

Several veteran detectives were chatting.

“Chief Kajio, look at this! There’s an amazingly talented new forensic specialist at Otsuka Station!” The head of the investigation unit, in his thirties, smiled at the acting chief of the detective division. “Have you seen the Metropolitan Police files? Incredible! The on-site autopsy results exactly match Tokyo University forensic anatomy! This guy, Muneyuki Uesugi, is remarkable!”

“Really, when will our station get a forensic specialist like that?” A patrol captain in his twenties, sipping a thermos filled with goji berry and honey tea, chimed in. “It’s such a pain to always have to go to private clinics. Our station is actually a higher-level branch!”

Though both Shiba and Otsuka police stations are local branches, Shiba Station is of a higher rank, its chief holding the rank of Senior Superintendent, usually a retired head of one of the three major investigation divisions in the Metropolitan Police Department.

By contrast, Otsuka’s chief is only Superintendent—one rank lower than Senior Superintendent.

The power of a Senior Superintendent is terrifying!

Because of this, the detective division chief at Shiba is a Senior Superintendent, so they must appoint an acting chief at Superintendent rank to handle the division; simply put, Senior Superintendents work in offices and don’t attend crime scenes.

This exemplifies the stubborn, conservative nature of the Japanese.

“Cooperation isn’t difficult, is it? It’s just the Medical and Dental University. If needed, our station can send an official request and call them over.” Acting Detective Chief Kajio said nonchalantly. “Those idiots at Otsuka—what are they doing? They already subdued the suspect but still let her get a knife and wound someone, then let her escape? What useless fools.”

As they chatted, a voice outside said emotionlessly, “Good morning!”

At the sound, the male officers in the detective division immediately fell silent and averted their gazes like they had seen a plague.

A female officer entered through the main entrance. She looked about in her early twenties, dressed in plain civilian clothes just like the other detectives—standard female suit trousers and leather shoes. Yet, even with such ordinary attire, she stood out.

Because she was born different.

Her short, ear-length brown hair was neat yet carried a hint of sharpness. Her bangs fell naturally, framing a face with somewhat exotic features—different from the usual softness of women, instead possessing three parts toughness and seriousness.

Her features exuded an unusual allure and seductiveness; at first glance, the lines were somewhat harsh, but on closer inspection, there was a subtle hint of mixed heritage in her deeply sculpted, somewhat aggressive European contours—features Asians envied.

Even more striking was the tight struggle of the buttons and collar across her chest, as if a button might pop open at any moment. Even the simplest suit trousers couldn’t hide her shapely figure, combined with her towering height of 1.7 meters, giving an overwhelming presence.

Though dressed androgynously, with a cold aura and sharp, aggressive features, an inescapable lushness radiated from her. At about twenty, she was in a wondrous stage—just transitioning from youth to maturity, without the aura of a married woman or fully ripened allure, a bit sweet, a bit proud, with uncontrollable youthful vitality that swayed enticingly as she moved.

She shook, but it felt as if it was not just her but the entire world shaking with her.

Miharu, a stunning sight, drew men’s gazes and made them swallow hard from afar.

Her cold brown eyes were lifeless. She greeted her colleagues simply, but none responded; they all turned their heads away quickly as if she were a curse, avoiding even the sight of her clothing’s hem.

“………” Used to the silence, she went to her seat, but then the acting chief called out, “Ikeda, come here, there’s a transfer order from the Metropolitan Police Department.”

“Yes.”

The acting chief caught a glimpse of Ikeda approaching, then turned his head away, forcing himself to look at the water dispenser in the corner. He pulled out a document issued by the Metropolitan Police Department and, feeling its rough texture, extended it vaguely in Ikeda’s direction.

“Hereby, I officially announce that Detective Erina Ikeda of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Shiba Police Station Detective Division, is transferred to the Otsuka Police Station Detective Division, effective today, taking over the position of Detective Kosaka.”

“That is all!”