Abbot Kiyoka slid open the sliding door of the tatami room and gestured for the two to follow him inside.
Fujiwara Reya removed his shoes in the spacious and serene entryway, walking across the polished floor into the room. On the handmade thick tatami mats, the surface in the middle was woven with rush. The window fras were elegant and slightly outdated, but the ink paintings on the wall lacked grace. Oh, right, there was also a pot of black lilies on the table, the sa as the bouquet the two ladies brought back to the dojo.
"Please have a seat, I’ll prepare so tea." With that, Abbot Kiyoka stepped into a small compartnt.
Upon entering the tatami room, Kasahara Fumi glanced around as if probing, eliminating any factors of unease in the environnt. After removing his shoes, Fujiwara Reya noticed she was wearing pale yellow boat socks with a white cat pattern, which was quite cute. For a high and mighty female police officer, such socks seed a bit childish. Nonetheless, given her remarkable beauty, even cute socks suited her well; her graceful and slender figure exuded extraordinary charm.
Once they sat down at the tea table, Kasahara Fumi realized he was staring at her socks, causing her cheeks to flush slightly as if embarrassed, and she hurriedly explained, "Asuka’s..."
"Hmm?" Fujiwara Reya was imdiately interested.
"When I ca here, I didn’t bring casual clothes..." Kasahara Fumi’s voice grew softer and softer, "The outfit didn’t suit long stockings, so I borrowed Asuka’s socks to wear..."
"Didn’t bring casual clothes?" Fujiwara Reya’s gaze wandered over her shirt and long skirt.
Kasahara Fumi felt foolish explaining this, but having co this far, she had no choice but to continue, "The clothes and skirt are my mother’s..."
"Sister’s socks, mother’s clothes, and skirt..." Fujiwara Reya’s eyes suddenly lit up, "Plus sister’s body, wouldn’t that be triple the fun?"
"?"
Faced with his strange gaze, Kasahara Fumi felt a chill run down her spine.
This guy is definitely a pervert!
Judging by his current expression, Kasahara Fumi was a hundred percent sure he would entice Asuka into dressing up in her uniform or combat gear to engage in gentlemanly gas like "sister impersonating sister."
After a while, Abbot Kiyoka erged with the tea.
White porcelain teapot, jet-black tea cups, very ordinary tea utensils.
"I’ll bring so snacks," Abbot Kiyoka said as he bowed and then left again.
Feeling a bit thirsty, Fujiwara Reya picked up a tea cup, intending to take a sip.
"Wait," Kasahara Fumi stopped him, lifting a cup of tea herself, taking a sip first and carefully discerning it before nodding towards him, "It’s quite bitter, but nothing out of the ordinary."
"Bitter?" Fujiwara Reya brought the tea cup to his lips.
"Very bitter." Kasahara Fumi displayed an expression suggesting disbelief, as if she would take a significant loss.
After taking a sip, Fujiwara Reya made a face of extre bitterness.
"I told you it’s very bitter." Kasahara Fumi’s face lit up with an indescribable joy, but as Fujiwara Reya’s amused gaze scrutinized her, she turned her gaze away, seeking a topic by looking at the flowers on the table.
"What kind of flower is this?"
"It’s a black lily."
"Black lily?"
"Yes. Last night, the two directors took a bouquet ho. We even researched it together," Fujiwara Reya said while shifting the small vase closer. "The scent is quite unique, see for yourself."
"The color’s a bit like black callia." Kasahara Fumi bent down to sniff the fragrance of the flowers.
A peculiar fishy aroma lingered, neither pleasant nor unpleasant, just sowhat odd. Upon closer examination, the flower’s color resembled deep purple, yet not quite purple, displaying a strange reddish-purple hue under the sunlight.
Her professional sensitivity prompted her to push the flowers aside, "Feels peculiar."
Fujiwara Reya focused on the black lilies in the vase.
There were two stems, each with two flowers, totaling four flowers.
Kasahara Fumi, as if idly, poured tea into the vase.
The blooming flowers weren’t particularly vivid, with sunlight casting an eerie shadow on the gently green leaves and stems.
"The flower language of black lilies is solitude and curse," Fujiwara Reya recalled sothing he’d read sowhere, "Usually grows at altitudes of 2,500 ters on high mountains, blooming alone. In Japan, it only appears in the northern-central regions, so it logically shouldn’t be found in Minami-Izu."
Kasahara Fumi pondered for a mont before responding, "It might have co from Tochigi County."
Fujiwara Reya supplented her concise statent with necessary context, "So, it ans the widow has deeply infiltrated the ancient temple refurbishnt, deep enough for Abbot Kiyoka to use the flowers she brought as gifts to others."
"Probably," Kasahara Fumi said.
"How did you and Kuri beco aware of this widow?" Fujiwara Reya asked.
Kasahara Fumi didn’t respond, simply pulled her legs closer together than before.
This gesture indicated her fluctuating heart.
"Alright, I won’t inquire about matters between you and Kuri," Fujiwara Reya conceded.
"Okay," Kasahara Fumi acknowledged, gradually unclenching her tiny fists.
"But I’ll warn you, you know Kuri isn’t a good person, right? Be careful she doesn’t sche you into her plans," Fujiwara Reya remarked, looking at her hands while trying to sow discord. "You’re smart but not good at expressing and rejecting, easily trapped by whatever reasons she might use to drag you in."
"I can handle it," Kasahara Fumi replied calmly.
Handle my ass... Fujiwara Reya cursed internally.
With Fumi’s brain, she’d likely be sold clean by her little aunt... Forget it, not worth worrying over; I’ll just clean up the ss myself when the ti cos. As the head of the family, maintaining family harmony is indeed my responsibility, so let them stir up trouble first.
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