Ojousama of the Isaka Family
"Motonobu-san. Who are you? Why are you so concerned about the Sakuradani family's circumstances?"
"I told you that I'm a former detective and a novelist. I have a slight connection to the Sakuradani family. I didn't want to stick my neck out, but now that you're back, I can't help but do that."
"Because I came back...? Eh?"
"I talked a little too much. I'm going to go now. The village chief, Taisuke Isaka, may still be alive. That old man should be well aware of the customs of Sengatake Village."
"Wait! Motonobu-san! I want you to tell me two last things."
"Two? That's greedy. Usually, detectives say, [Just one last thing]."
"This is about February 25th, when I met you. When you looked at my face, you muttered, [Kaoruko]. Why? Who is Kaoruko? I've never heard of such a woman."
As they parted ways, Hinami directly asked the question that had been on her mind.
"Well, I don't know..."
Motonobu shrugs his shoulders and smiles. She felt that the stern expression on his bearded face softened.
"You're a terrible person... You're dodging the question. You won't answer."
"If you promise to go back to school in Tokyo, I can tell you everything you need to know. But you won't promise. And I don't think you'll believe what I say."
"Because Motonobu-san is too suspicious. You said that you got Mother pregnant... You don't want the people around you to believe you, do you?"
Hinami could tell by Motonobu's words and actions. This man has no interest in the Sakuradani family's assets. To stir up this problem, he was claiming a lie that would make her find out right away.
"I can't deny it. So, what's your other question? Whether I answer it depends on the content of the question."
"Please tell me your blood type. You can answer that much, right?"
"AB type. People often say I'm weird."
"...Overseas, people don't believe in personality diagnosis based on blood type. It's a superstition only found in Japan."
"You're acting like a foreigner. But I believe you. In exchange for not answering your first question, I'll tell you something good. Himura Koshiro seems to be A type."
"Koshiro-san is A type...!"
Hinami had a bad feeling. The girl Yukiko had given birth to sixteen years ago was A type. She wasn’t Saemon’s child, nor Sousuke’s. However, if Koshiro’s blood type was A, he could be her father.
Yukiko is blood type O and Koshiro is blood type A, and their child is blood type A or O.
"Koshiro Himura called himself an A type because he was stupidly serious. I don’t know if it’s true or not. Was it useful?"
Motonobu left, leaving behind words that seemed to see through Hinami's inner thoughts. She asked for his blood type in order to find her real father.
Yukiko rarely leaves Sengatake Village. Hinami's father was either a person who lived in the village 16 years ago or a guest at Sakuradani-kan. And Koshiro had been coming in and out of Sakuradani-kan for over twenty years.
◆ ◆ ◆
Early in the morning on March 9th, Koshiro returned to Sakuradani-kan.
Hinami was given a copy of the family register issued by the government office. This is an official certificate proving the marital relationship between Yukiko and Koshiro. The nuisance named Sousuke has disappeared, and Taisuke, the village chief, remains missing. Koshiro became a father who could freely use the Sakuradani family's property, the beautiful mother and daughter they left behind.
Hinami was preparing for what kind of demands Koshiro, who became her father-in-law, would make. However. Koshiro does not come out of the [Human Room] on the third floor of the guest room of the Sakuradani Building. He locked himself.
(This is an unexpected development... Now that Sousuke-san has been killed, Koshiro-san is in an overwhelmingly advantageous position... What on earth happened? That sudden change? Sousuke-san committed suicide. When Koshiro-san was told this by Ran, his face turned pale.)
It wasn't the kind of trembling that can be done through acting. His expression was filled with fear, as if he had met a demon. Koshiro was scared from the bottom of his heart.
(Motonobu-san said that Koshiro-san was an accountant who supported the Sakuradani family's behind-the-scenes business. In other words, someone related to the Hokuwakai... But... can he kill Sousuke-san?)
Koshiro was not involved in Sousuke's murder. That's how Hinami felt.
(However, there are a lot of things I need to find out from Koshiro-san. He is the prime suspect for forcing Mother to become pregnant. I need to think of a way to drag him out of the room. No, perhaps I should attack first...?)
The [Human Room] where Koshiro was located was directly above the [Pine Room] used by Hinami. As long as the window is open, it's not impossible to climb up from the outside. However, if you miss a step, you'll fall to the ground.
(Let's stop. If he looks that scared, Koshiro-san will probably close the window tightly...)
She didn't mean to do something so reckless. She's concerned about Koshiro's sudden change in attitude. However, there is now a problem that requires more concentration. Hinami was called to the Isaka family.
"This is the Isaka family's residence. This may be my first time visiting their home..."
In the afternoon of March 9th, Hinami visited the Isaka family who were in mourning.
Officially, it was an apology for Sousuke’s insolence. But the real reason was different. The one who called Hinami was the daughter of Taisuke Isaka and the youngest sister, Ayane, who was often attached to Sousuke.
She crossed the threshold of the entrance hall and found Akari Isaka there. As far as the generation was concerned, she was the same as the late Hinami's grandfather. She looked to be in her late sixties. Her hair had turned white.
"Thank you for coming. I apologize for the trouble my son Sousuke caused to the Sakuradani family. There's nothing I can do to apologize...! It's as you see...!! Please forgive me!"
An old woman in mourning clothes kneels on the ground. Hinami couldn't bear it. Her husband Taisuke had gone missing after losing his eldest son Sousuke. She could guess what was going on in Akari's mind.
"For the misconduct of the Isaka family... Please forgive me...!!"
"Akari-san, please stop...! Um...! Please, please raise your head. That's not what I came to the Isaka family for."
Even after Hinami admonished her, Akari continued rubbing her forehead against the floor of the entranceway.
"Stop it! Mother!! Jeez! It's so shameless! I was the one who called Hinami-chan, you know? I don't even believe that Onii-sama committed suicide in the first place! There's a possibility that someone killed him. Right? That's why he got caught up in the Sakuradani family trouble. Am I wrong?"
"Ayane! What are you saying...! Apologize!!"
"After all, dying like that isn't normal. Hinami-chan thought Onii-sama's death was abnormal, so she came to the enemy house, right?"
Ayane's temperament was the exact opposite of her mother's. She has a strong tone and speaks quickly. You could say that she has a strong competitive spirit, and her masculine temperament is evident even in her facial expressions. It was hard to believe that she was born from Akari's womb.
"I don't think of you as enemies. It seems that the older generation had a lot of problems, but I want to get rid of those ties from the past."
"Heh. I see. That's a special consideration"
Her natural features are lovely, and her physique is petite. Hinami hears that she is fourteen years old. If she recalls carefully, when she attended the branch school in Sengatake Village, she felt like Ayane was two grades below her.
"Ayane...! What are you saying! What's with that attitude when you invited the daughter of the Sakuradani family...!!"
"That's enough, Mother, stay away! I told you earlier. I called her. Isn't that so? Hinami-chan."
"Yes. I didn't come here to receive an apology, Akari-san. I'm really sorry for Sousuke-san."
"Hmph! I'm glad you're quick on the uptake. Come here, then. Let's talk in the garden. The pipsqueaks will get in the way at the mansion. Mother! Make sure you put those two to sleep."
"Pipsqueaks...?"
"It's Yusuke and Tatsuya. A relative's child. One-year-old twins who's been receiveing care here. They've started to learn how to speak, and lately they're really starting to make a terrible fuss. As you noticed. I hate children. They're dirty, annoying, and intrusive."
(I think Ayane-chan is still a child though...)
Wearing geta sandals, Ayane beckoned, [Hurry up and follow me]. Hinami felt uncomfortable, but she followed behind her.
There was a large pond in the garden of the Isaka family. She had heard that a splendid carp was swimming, but it seemed that it was still hibernating. The carp burrowed into the mulch at the bottom of the pond and made it through the harsh winter. That was what her grandfather had told her.
"I was surprised when Ayane-chan called me on the phone."
"Did you think there's no telephone in the Isaka family? It was Father’s sense of rivalry. A week after the phone line was installed at the Sakuradani Inn, he put a phone in our house, too. Isn’t that stupid? Father was the type to spend money on appearances."
(...I didn't mean that ...but ...I might not be good at the Isaka family after all...)
Hinami couldn't help but smile bitterly. As expected, she found it difficult to get along with the Isaka family. This may be because it was imprinted by Yoshiharu and Saemon from an early age.
"Hey, are you enjoying school in Tokyo? I heard that Hinami-chan went to a famous private girls' school."
"Studying is hard, but you can learn a lot."
"Me too. Until last year, I attended a private junior high school. I left Sengatake Village. Just like Onii-sama and Onee-sama abandoned the village, I wanted to leave too. But they took me back. It was really bad!"
"Does Ayane-chan hate Sengatake Village?"
"I hate it. It's not normal. I hate it! A village like this. I wish it would perish as soon as possible. I'm sad that Onii-sama died, but I'm very happy that Father is gone. For the first time, I'm grateful to Oni Tengu."
"I was born and raised in Sengatake Village, but my parents never told me anything about it. Ayane-chan, did you know... about the customs of Sengatake Village, right?"
"It's obvious that I know. It's strange that the Sakuradani daughter didn't know. But I think I understand why Hinami-chan's parents couldn't tell you. The Sakuradani family has more morals than the Isaka family. That's admirable. Normally, you wouldn't tell a child something like that."
"You told me on the phone that you had a suicide note from Sousuke-san..."
"It's not a suicide note! Sousuke Onii-sama never intended to die!! However, if he were to be killed like Adashino-san, he asked me to give this letter to Hinami-chan."
Ayane took out a white envelope containing a letter from her pocket.
"Can I see the letter?"
"I'll give it to you after you listen to me. There's plenty of time, right?"
"I don't mind, but what are you talking about?"
"It's the connection between the Isaka family and the Sakuradani family. Also, the customs of Sengatake Village. It has something to do with both. Hinami-chan is a serious person. In that case, you must have noticed the abnormality of this village, right?"
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[Introduction of characters]
▼ Yukiko Sakuradani (O type)
The young proprietress of Sakuradani-kan, a long-established hot spring inn.
She lost her husband and became a widow. She is raped by someone from Sengatake Village and she becomes pregnant.
▼ Saemon Sakuradani (O type)
Yukiko's late husband. Burn to death in a fire. He has a severed relationship with Sousuke.
▼ Hinami Sakuradani
Yukiko and Saemon's only daughter. She left Sengatake Village and entered a girls' school in Tokyo. Until recently, she was studying abroad.
She reunites with her mother for the first time in two years and is told that she is pregnant.
▼ Sousuke Isaka (B type)
The prodigal son of the Isaka family, who monopolizes the position of village chief in Sengatake Village.
He was an old friend of Yukiko and Saemon, but they had a rift over a certain incident and their relationship became strained.
He takes out [Saemon's will] and claims that he got Yukiko pregnant.
On the night of March 3rd, he was strangled to death in the detached building.
▼ Koshiro Himura (A type)
A bank employee at Yamatoku Mujin Bank. An obese, ugly middle-aged man.
Although he is the exclusive representative of the Sakuradani family, he was despised by Saemon when he was alive.
He brings out [Yukiko's love letter] and claims that he got her pregnant.
▼ Motonobu Matsudaira (AB type)
Self-proclaimed novelist. A guest staying at Sakuradani-kan for a long time.
He claims that Yukiko approached him and they had a physical relationship.
He is actually a former detective and was investigating the relationship between the Sakuradani family and the Hokuwakai.
▼ Misaki Reiko
A female doctor who works at a clinic in Sengatake Village. She diagnoses that Yukiko is pregnant.
▼ Ran (A type)
An apprentice who works at Sakuradani-kan. She is a twelve-year-old girl, but she does not go to school.
▼ Yoshiharu Sakuradani (B type)
Yukiko's father. He doted on his granddaughter, Hinami.
He and the Isaka family are bitter enemies. He opposed the plan of a ski resort. He died of illness ten years ago.
Although he trusted Koshiro and valued him, the Sakuradani family was actually the sponsor of the Hokuwakai.
▼ Taisuke Isaka (O type)
He has been at odds with the Sakuradani family for several decades over a plan to build a ski resort.
He has a grudge against the Sakuradani family, the large landowners who are hindering the development of the village.
He has been missing since the night of March 3rd, the day Sousuke was killed in the [detached building].
▼ Akari Isaka (O type)
She was Taisuke's wife and Sousuke’s mother. She was old, but she was beautiful when she was young.
▼ Ayane Isaka (O type)
She was the youngest daughter of the Isaka family. A beautiful fourteen-year-old girl.
▼ Ayumu Higashiyama
A police officer stationed in Sengatake Village. He is a beautiful young man with fair skin and an androgynous face.
Although he keeps his distance from the people in the village, he is liked by Ran.
▼Adashino Musashi
Former police officer. He was familiar with Sengatake Village, but committed suicide with a pistol two years ago.
There is a rumor that he was guiding the Hokuwakai, but the Isaka family is the one spreading the rumors.
Due to the bad habits of Sengatake Village, Adashino, who has a strong sense of justice, was arguing with the Isaka family.
[Records of Sengatake Village]
▽ 1960
November 8th: Yukiko gives birth to a baby girl, blood type A.
▽ 1966
Winter: Grandfather Yoshiharu Sakuradani dies of illness
▽ 1974
One day in April: Hinami enters a girls' school in Tokyo and leaves Sengatake Village.
July 7th: Saemon was burned to death in a fire.
July 8th: Adashino's corpse is found at the police post.
August 24th: Saemon's 49th memorial service, rape photo taken of Yukiko
Late August: Yukiko's emotions become disturbed and she begins to kick out the old employees.
▽ 1975
A certain day in July: Sousuke returns to Sengatake Village.
A certain day in September: Yukiko becomes pregnant by the rape demon's seed (♥︎)
September 25th: Yukiko and Koshiro's marriage registration is submitted(?)
▽ 1976
February 24th: Hinami returns home and is told that her mother, Yukiko, is pregnant.
February 25th: Influential people from Sengatake Village gather for discussion.
March 3rd: Handwriting analysis results arrive from Tokyo.
Sousuke calls Hinami to Oni Tengu Shrine.
March 4th: Sousuke hangs himself in a closed building ☠️
The village chief, Taisuke, goes missing.
March 7th: The prefectural police cut off the investigation.
March 9th: Koshiro comes back, but secludes himself in the guest room (Human Room).
Heard from Ayane about the customs of <Sengatake Village>
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