The staff stamred the mont they saw him.
"Ah—Mister Nakagawa!"
They bowed quickly, almost in sync.
Haruki laughed lightly. "Don’t be that stiff."
They straightened, still flustered.
"The manager here?"
"Y-Yes, Mister Nakagawa. I’ll go call her now."
"Okay."
Haruki gave a small nod, then walked inside the reception area with easy steps. He rested one hand casually on the counter.
While waiting, he struck up a light conversation with the front desk staff.
"Anything interesting happening here today?"
"Ah... n-nothing in particular, Mister Nakagawa," one of the receptionists replied, forcing a professional smile.
"Just the usual traffic. So check-ins. A business dinner in one of the conference rooms, I think."
"Hmm..."
Haruki glanced at the lobby—people coming and going. Normal.
He looked back at the girl behind the counter.
"How’s the work here?" he asked, voice light, friendly.
She blinked.
"G-Good. Everything is... good."
He smiled at her—genuinely, but with that quiet charm that always made people a little uneasy if they weren’t used to him.
Tall, well-dressed, and polite.
The receptionist tried to maintain eye contact, but her cheeks flushed slightly.
It wasn’t just because he was upper managent.
It was also because he was handso.
And because he was smiling.
She swallowed and busied herself with the keyboard, though she wasn’t typing anything important.
"There must be sothing interesting, right?" Haruki said, still smiling, his tone light.
He leaned closer against the counter.
"Co on, share sothing with . I won’t tell anyone."
The receptionist gave a nervous laugh, still fidgeting with the mouse.
"You’ve been working here for how long?"
"F-Five years, Mister Nakagawa."
"Oh, that’s good."
He nodded with a soft chuckle.
"Then you must know quite a bit about this place."
He glanced toward the lobby again—still casual, as if he was just passing the ti.
"You probably recognize a lot of custors too, right?"
"Like... who’s VIP, who’s regular. Who always asks for the sa suite. Who cos in with a different partner every month..."
He smiled playfully.
"That kind of thing."
She laughed nervously, unsure whether to answer seriously.
"I-I an... it’s part of the job, yes..."
Haruki leaned a little closer, lowering his voice.
"It’s a skill you need when working in a hotel like this, right?"
"To read the custor before they even open their mouth."
He gave her a wink.
"I bet you can do that easily."
Her cheeks flushed , caught sowhere between nervousness and flattery.
"I... try my best..."
"Now..." Haruki gestured lightly with his chin.
"Tell —who’s that man over there?"
The receptionist glanced.
"Ah—that one is Mister Kishikawa. Regular in our place. Usually books the sa corner suite. Stays one or two nights."
Haruki nodded. "Mmm. Good eye."
"And that one?"
"That’s Madam Karakawa," she whispered, then leaned in slightly, lips near his ear.
"She’s... fussy. Loud. Very demanding."
She gave a quick glance around, then back at Haruki.
"Always asks for new towels even when she hasn’t used the old ones."
"Wow. Good observation." Haruki chuckled, clearly amused.
Then he noticed the girl suddenly straighten—realizing how openly she’d been talking.
She bowed deeply.
"Please don’t fire , Mister Nakagawa!"
Haruki blinked, then laughed softly. "Hmm? I’m not going to fire you."
He tilted his head slightly.
"What for?"
"You’re doing your job well. That’s the skill you need."
His voice dropped to that soft, calm tone again.
"When you can read people, know how they act, how they respond... you can handle them better."
The receptionist slowly relaxed.
"Yes... Mister Nakagawa."
Haruki smiled gently again, then asked, still casual:
"Now tell ... what do you think about those two?"
He pointed discreetly toward a direction off the lobby.
"The old man and the young girl who’s been following him around lately."
The receptionist’s face tensed.
Her eyes flicked toward the direction—then back at him.
"I... I can’t say much about that..."
"Don’t worry." Haruki smiled, reassuring. "I’m not asking where they’re staying. Just your... observation."
She hesitated.
"They’ve been regulars. Quiet ones, usually."
Then her voice dropped lower.
"But there’s been so whispering from the housekeeping staff."
Haruki tilted his head, still smiling with calm curiosity.
"And?"
The girl bit her lip.
"So say... that old man and that girl... um..."
She leaned closer, almost whispering now.
"...they say she calls him ’Papa’ in public..."
A pause.
"...but not in private."
"Oho~ Sugardaddy?" Haruki grinned, teasing.
The receptionist covered her mouth with a small laugh, blushing.
"M-Maybe... When they rent a room, it’s usually not for long. Like, how couples do—uh, you know, they check in... then check out after a few hours."
Haruki raised a brow. "Ahh, I see~ Short stays, huh?"
She nodded quickly, eyes flicking toward the side hallway.
"And the room service staff said... when they delivered food, they saw... um... the girl..."
"Hmm?" Haruki leaned in slightly, smiling wider. "Co on. Tell more."
The girl hesitated, then glanced around before whispering low.
"They said... the girl answered the door once. Wearing only a towel."
Haruki chuckled softly, pretending to be amused.
"That bold, huh?"
"Y-Yeah... And the old man—he’s stingy. Never gives tips. Always demanding. Orders like he owns the place."
The receptionist added in a hushed voice.
"One ti, one of the housekeeping ladies swore she heard... moaning."
"Oh?" Haruki tilted his head. "From which room?"
The girl flinched. "I-I don’t know! They didn’t say. I didn’t ask."
Haruki smiled again, calming.
"I was just teasing."
He stood up straighter, brushing the front of his jacket.
"But you’re good at this. You observe people well."
She looked down, still red. "T-Thank you..."
"Alright, thanks."
Haruki smiled gently at the receptionist, giving her one last friendly nod before stepping away from the counter.
She bowed deeply again. "T-Thank you, Mister Nakagawa..."
Inside his mind...
This will need more investigation.
I can’t jump to conclusions... not yet.
But if it’s true—if it’s really what I think it is...
Then I’ll need confirmation.
Perhaps I should hire a private investigator.
Soone discreet. Soone trusted.
Soone who could follow the threads quietly—without raising alarm.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the marble floor.
The hotel manager rushed over, slightly out of breath.
"Ah—Mister Nakagawa! I’m so sorry I kept you waiting."
Haruki turned, smile still in place.
"No need to apologize. I wasn’t in a rush."
They shook hands.
The manager relaxed slightly and began small talk about the property—upcoming renovations, recent bookings, so minor updates.
Haruki listened politely, responding with calm interest.
After a few minutes, the conversation wrapped.
"Thank you for your ti," Haruki said smoothly.
"It’s always an honor, sir."
Haruki gave a small nod and stepped outside.
After that day, Haruki made the decision.
He hired a private investigator—soone trusted. Quiet. Professional.
And slowly... piece by piece... the truth began to unfold.
Haruki stared at the reports in silence, night after night—hands shaking, eyes blank.
At first, he felt numb.
Then angry.
Then hollow again.
He was on the edge of breaking.
On the verge of losing all composure.
But he was still living inside the Harusawa residence.
Still sitting at the sa dining table.
Still greeted by Satomi’s fake smile.
Still watched by Satoshi’s cold eyes.
He couldn’t go on a rampage.
Couldn’t scream.
Couldn’t reveal anything.
So he stayed quiet.
Until—
He saw her.
Kyouko.
If that’s how you do it...
Then fine.
I won’t hold back anymore.
( End Of Chapter )
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