Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 137 - 59: Couples Soaking in Hot Springs

Chapter 137: Chapter 59: Couples Soaking in Hot Springs

Minamoto Tamako wanted to ask more questions, but Fushimi Roku changed the subject. The three returned to talking about local customs, discussing the scenery of Okinawa one moment and the heavy snow on Mount Fuji the next. In the end, everyone was full and satisfied, and Fushimi Roku suggested going to the thermal baths.

Sakura Onsen is one of the recommended natural hot spring facilities in Tokyo, and Fushimi Roku had always wanted to experience it. When it was time for men and women to bathe separately, the three men could chat freely without worrying about Minamoto Tamako being present.

But Kamei Yuusaku declined. He clasped his hands together, apologetic: "Sorry, I have a date tonight, so I really can’t stay too late..."

Kazama Tatsuya’s face turned quite ugly upon hearing this. He gave Kamei Yuusaku a sidelong glance and, before Fushimi Roku could persuade him, suddenly said, "It’s okay, invite her to join us."

"Um... isn’t that a bit inappropriate?" Kamei Yuusaku showed a troubled expression.

"What’s inappropriate about it? Chihime and Tamako get along well, and soaking in the hot spring together can improve their relationship," Kazama Tatsuya said.

Minamoto Tamako was stunned for four or five seconds before coming to her senses: "Wait, wait... you’re Chihime’s boyfriend?"

Kamei Yuusaku was quite surprised; he hadn’t expected that the two had already met Kazama Chihime. Since there was nothing to hide about their relationship, Kamei Yuusaku nodded in acknowledgment. He sent a message to seek his girlfriend’s opinion, and Kazama Chihime had no objections, saying she looked forward to joining them for the hot spring later.

Fushimi Roku’s expression was complex; perhaps due to natural repulsion, he found Kamei Yuusaku genuinely unpleasant, feeling a sense of dislike no matter how he looked at him.

The three of them went downstairs first, while Fushimi Roku stayed behind to settle the bill. Zhao Chunshu said he would waive it for him and also subtly asked if there was need for any follow-up services.

"No, that guy is quite interesting, I plan to chat with him more, maybe he can enlighten Tamako," Fushimi Roku insisted on paying the bill.

"No need to tell me this." Zhao Chunshu accepted the payment.

"Worthy of a professional."

Saying this, Fushimi Roku lowered his voice and leaned in to ask, "How do you charge for this? Of course, it’s not that I need it, but I have a friend, he works at a law firm... you understand, right? I’m asking for him."

Zhao Chunshu gave a knowing look, gesturing a number that indicated this couldn’t be offered for free, he couldn’t let his brothers work for nothing. Fushimi Roku bared his teeth, complaining it was too expensive, but Zhao Chunshu repeated, "They are professionals."

"Alright then."

Fushimi Roku didn’t ask further. He took the elevator downstairs and drove the three of them to the thermal baths.

The journey wasn’t far, about twenty or thirty minutes. When they got out of the car, Kazama Chihime had already arrived. She was wearing a down jacket, her neck long and slender, warming her hands with her breath.

When Kamei Yuusaku got out of the car, Kazama Chihime gave a gentle smile, looking even more beautiful than the snowy scenery on the streets of Tokyo.

When the couple met, there wasn’t much small talk. Kamei Yuusaku simply greeted her, and Kazama Chihime nodded, with no other exchange. Before entering the hot spring, they didn’t hold hands either.

Fushimi Roku looked suspiciously at the two of them, feeling their relationship didn’t seem like a couple’s.

The group split into two, went to the changing rooms to change. The bathhouse owner provides robes and disposable toiletries. Crossing the curtain revealed a hot spring pool surrounded by fake rock mountains—for a shower, one had to go to another pool.

Bamboo fences separated the men’s and women’s baths, with steam filling the air and bamboo shadows dappling the surroundings.

Being Christmas, the hot spring pool was in its off-season, making it feel like a private booking, with not a soul in sight. Fushimi Roku sank into the water, forehead topped with a wet towel, feeling every pore on his body relax.

Indeed, one should soak in a hot spring during winter.

Kazama Tatsuya sat opposite, while Kamei Yuusaku sat on the side, forming a triangle between the three.

Silent emotions flowed through the air: one enjoying with closed eyes, another frowning with a sidelong face, and one diving underwater bubbling with laughter. None of the three looked directly at each other, yet they all sensed being observed peripherally.

This observation without direct gaze was like predators in a forest probing one another.

Kazama Tatsuya was the first to break the silence: "Can you explain now?"

"Explain what?" Kamei Yuusaku asked.

"There’s no point in playing dumb now, I could pressure her with that dog, push her to collapse," Kazama Tatsuya said while looking down at him through the steam, "Even without the dog, I can make her talk."

"Eh—so scary," Kamei Yuusaku laughed.

"We’re all friends here," interjected Fushimi Roku: "Now that we’re all stripped bare, what’s there to worry about?"

Kamei Yuusaku remained silent for a moment, seemingly convinced by Fushimi Roku’s reasoning, then spoke: "I have an alibi, remember? You called me that night. I was at the Okura Hotel, there should be surveillance in the corridor, I have a hotel receipt, and the attendant and..."

He suddenly stopped.

"It’s just an affair!" Fushimi Roku chuckled, "Don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret."

He planned to tell Kazama Chihime anyway.

"And the dog?" Kazama Tatsuya pressed on.

He seemed to know Kamei Yuusaku well, understanding what kind of person he was. Learning of Kamei Yuusaku’s affair didn’t surprise him and he didn’t even feel angry on behalf of his daughter.

"Killed it," Kamei Yuusaku said.

"Who killed it?" Kazama Tatsuya asked.

"I can’t say, investigate all you want; it has nothing to do with me," Kamei Yuusaku said, "Tonight we’re enjoying dinner and the hot spring together, let’s not talk about such unpleasant things."

"One last question," Kazama Tatsuya said, "Why kill him?"

"Hmm, that’s a tough question," Kamei Yuusaku turned over, lying against the edge of the rock to cool off, and said with his back to them, "Let’s suppose if Yuuta doesn’t manage Riko, then who do you think would fall off the building?"

Fushimi Roku laughed: "Could it be the wrong person was killed?"

"No matter, the result is the same, I just didn’t expect Yuuta would go up on the roof with Riko," Kamei Yuusaku said.

"What do you mean by that?" Kazama Tatsuya asked.

"Let’s suppose, Mr. Tatsuya, how was your relationship with your wife?" Kamei Yuusaku questioned back.

"Why ask that?" Kazama Tatsuya didn’t want to answer.

"Just chatting, don’t be so uptight," Fushimi Roku cut in: "Come on, tell us... what happened with your wife?"

Kazama Tatsuya showed a helpless expression, "She passed away. When she was alive... of course, we were very close."

"How close?" Kamei Yuusaku pursued.

"Closer than you can imagine," Kazama Tatsuya was too lazy to elaborate.

Kamei Yuusaku rested his face on his arms like a child before sleeping: "Then let’s make a hypothesis: if one day, she decided to kill someone, would you help her?"