[Chapter 1] Memento Mori Episode 13: Respective Intentions

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The area around the university on a Saturday night was exceptionally lively with students. Laughter echoed from the streets, and despite the chilly air, the atmosphere was filled with the youthful energy of the students.
Within the university, there are numerous clubs, ranging from frivolous hobby circles to serious and active organizations. By identifying the elite group "Flock" as his investigation target, Hiraoka had learned from a business person who was a former Flock member that the members preferred to gather at a British-style pub called "Peppers" on weekend nights.
"Uncle Shigeru, if that's the case, why don't you just ask that graduate?"
Ayako whispered as she looked at Hiraoka, who was sitting across from her in a booth seat by the wall.
"That person graduated seven years ago."
Hiraoka took a sip of his dark beer, glanced toward the counter for a moment, and then
"Why did President Watanabe have to come here too..."
he sighed softly.
"Because tonight, instead of Kanzaki-kun, President Watanabe's daughter is coming to help out."
Ayako smiled amusedly and, moving only her eyes, lightly checked her surroundings.
"Last night, Kanzaki-kun and I tried our best, but we didn't get any response at all... I hope someone takes the bait tonight..."
Last night, Ayako had gone out around the university with Naoto and attempted to manipulate information, but it ended in failure without catching anything.
"Kanzaki is bad at acting... So that's why you went out of your way to call President Watanabe's daughter as a helper?"
"Because conversations flow more naturally between women, don't they? Besides, Kaoru-san is beautiful, so someone might take the bait."
Hiraoka carefully scanned his surroundings. The interior of the shop was designed to resemble a British pub, but the soft lighting and black-toned decor created a modern atmosphere. Since it was a relatively small bar, it was already full, and it was so crowded that groups of students were waiting for tables outside.
"Even so, isn't your makeup a bit flashy, Ayako?"
Hiraoka was dressed as an older father, wearing elegant attire suitable for an elite group.
"Uncle, I'm twenty years old now. This is normal."
Ayako stared at Hiraoka with an exasperated look, but
"Ayako, here I am 'Dad'."
He whispered to her to maintain the disguise, and that served as the signal. Ayako nodded and
"Dad, the owner of this bar is a graduate of the Department of Business Administration, right?"
she said, raising her voice slightly to start the conversation.
"Yeah, I heard he was already running it as a cafe while he was a student, but changed the business to a bar after graduation."
Hiraoka casually raised his tone to match Ayako's volume, and caught sight of a tall woman walking from the entrance door toward their table.
"Amazing! Starting a business while still a student, as expected!"
As Ayako kept the conversation going with enthusiasm,
"The owner is from Flock, you know."
A young woman with fair skin and well-defined features joined the conversation. Her chestnut-colored hair, swaying at her shoulders, enhanced her elegant atmosphere.
"Ah, Kaoru-san, you're late!"
Ayako tapped the booth seat with her palm, urging her to sit next to her.
"Uncle Shigeru is playing my dad."
She quickly and concisely explained to Kaoru, who was sitting right next to her, in a whisper.
"It's been a while, Kaoru-chan."
A bitter smile escaped Hiraoka as he greeted her casually.
"It has been a while."
Kaoru greeted Hiraoka, then directed her gaze only toward the counter seat.
"Why is Dad here too?"
Kaoru asked Hiraoka, who was sitting in front of her, in a low voice.
"He's worried."
Ayako replied with a laugh.
"Worried? I'm already a twenty-four-year-old working adult..."
Kaoru muttered to herself, but she had no choice but to return the topic to Flock.
"That's unique to Flock, an elite group that gathers high-achieving students!"
While paying attention to the bustling surroundings, she continued to speak in a clear tone, and a waiter noticed Kaoru's presence and came to the table to take their order.
"--And you know, I heard the membership fee is incredibly expensive."
Kaoru ordered a Belgian beer and spoke excitedly about the gossip. Unless she raised her voice to a certain level, the conversation would be drowned out by the chatter around them.
"I know. That's why I asked my dad to get it waived for me!"
Ayako told Kaoru excitedly, and then prompted Hiraoka, "Hey, Dad!" At that moment, there was a movement in the corner of Hiraoka's vision for an instant.
"Of course. Dad has connections with big names in the legal world, you see."
As Hiraoka continued, emphasizing the legal world, he caught a persistent gaze coming from the back seats. Hiraoka casually sent a glance toward Watanabe, who was sitting at the counter, and it seemed Watanabe felt something too.
Hiraoka cleared his throat and lightly rubbed his left eye with his finger. He had previously agreed with Ayako that this was the signal for "prey spotted." Ayako blinked a few times and
"Then, I can get into this elite group now!"
she said in a bright, loud voice, testing the other party's reaction. At that moment, there was a clear movement.
Hiraoka tapped the table lightly with his finger to alert Ayako and Kaoru, who were sitting in front of him, and
"I'm going to the restroom."
he said and stood up from his seat.
As Hiraoka walked toward the back of the shop, he did not miss the sight of two young men drinking at a seat in the back whispering to each other.

"They might bite."
When Ayako whispered as if to suppress her excitement,
"Excuse me, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but..."
a young man's voice came from behind. When Ayako and Kaoru turned around, a man who looked like a student had approached their booth.
"Were we too loud? I'm sorry."
Ayako apologized exaggeratedly, but the man smiled self-deprecatingly and
"No, I just heard something quite interesting..."
he said, glancing at his companion sitting at a table in the back.
"What kind of interesting story?"
Kaoru smiled, appearing to show a bit of an opening after taking a sip of her beer. The man looked around and
"It's about the elite group within Flock."
he replied in a whisper, as if concerned.
"Oh, please, have a seat."
Ayako, feeling the significant impact of the "elite group within Flock," invited him to sit in front of them.
"No, it's a bit difficult in this place..."
The man gave a hesitant look. Ayako sensed the reason for his hesitation, but decided to play dumb and
"It seems there are some circumstances. Shall we go to a different shop?"
she suggested moving locations. The man nodded and signaled his companion, and just at that moment, Hiraoka returned to his seat.
"Dad, this person is going to teach us various things about the university. So, is it okay if we go to another shop?"
Ayako said, standing up from the booth. Kaoru also stood up to join her.
"Oh, nice to meet you."
The man greeted Hiraoka, and
"Is it not okay for a father to accompany them? I'll pay for your share too."
Hiraoka said with a friendly smile, but
"That's fine. If your daughter is interested in Flock, there are things you should know as well."
There was a shadow on the man's expression.
"Then, I'll go settle the bill."
Hiraoka urged Ayako and Kaoru to go outside and wait first. While grabbing the bill, he glanced toward the counter seat and saw that Watanabe had just stood up.
After paying the bill and going outside the bar, Ayako and the two young men were waiting while talking. Hiraoka inhaled the clear night air. However, he immediately noticed that Kaoru was not there. Feeling responsible for losing sight of Watanabe's only daughter, Hiraoka hurriedly asked Ayako,
"I got a call from my dad, and I had to go home because of an urgent matter."
Ayako replied, as if suppressing a laugh. Hiraoka nodded and
"Then, gentlemen, shall we go?"
With that, the four of them left "Peppers" behind.

"I'm sorry for calling you out suddenly to help, and then making you leave so abruptly."
The light from the streetlamp cast two long shadows.
"I don't really mind. After all, I'm an outsider."
It's old news that Watanabe switched from being a lawyer to a detective when Kaoru was four, but
"Dad seems to be doing well, too."
Kaoru said with a smile. Watanabe narrowed his eyes, looked at Kaoru's chestnut hair swaying at her shoulders, and
"You've started to look like your mother."
he smiled gently.
"Eh? Everyone always says I look like you, Dad."
She stared at Watanabe in a bored tone. Like Watanabe, Kaoru is tall, and her features and personality are distinct.
"Then, Kaoru is handsome too."
Watanabe laughed without making a sound and stroked his chin.
"Is Naoto doing well? I haven't seen him since Keiko-san's third memorial service."
Kaoru knows well that her father cares about Naoto, who lost his parents. This is because Watanabe has had a deep connection with Naoto's family for a long time, but sometimes she feels complicated about it. She wonders if her father wanted a son instead of a daughter.
"Naoto is investigating another matter. He's doing well."
Watanabe replied safely, without mentioning a word about Naoto's first undercover investigation. Disclosing information about work content involves the client's privacy. If Hiraoka's provocative investigation got to the core, it was necessary to have the outsider, Kaoru, withdraw.
"Then, I'll go home because my younger brother is waiting. I'll stop by the office to see Naoto sometime."
"Younger brother? Did you have a younger brother?"
Ironically, enough time has passed that Kaoru's mother and her stepfather have a middle-school-aged son.
"I do, a half-brother. You know that, right?"
Kaoru chided him in an exasperated tone, and
"Is Mom doing well?"
Watanabe asked with a laugh.
"She's doing well. My stepfather is a good person, so it's fine."
Kaoru laughed along with him.
"I'd like to take you home, but--"
"You're at work, right? I'll catch a taxi, so I'll be fine."
"Then, let's walk to the main street together."
Watanabe said, and started walking slowly with the streetlamp light at his back.