Beichuan Si’s primary task at present was to find the past connections to either the Inagaki family or the Shindai family, grabbing the clue that tied to Shindai Kanari.
With the Shindai family having moved away from Tokyo and their whereabouts unknown, those in Tokyo who knew about Shindai Kanari’s initial situation also knew the Inagaki family.
"Inagaki Shizuka..." Beichuan Si murmured this na to himself.
This might be the person who made the promise with Shindai Kanari; judging by the na, it should be a girl.
Likewise, she was also the key figure of this trip.
What kind of promise had been made between two people of similar ages in that distant place?
Beichuan Si, while confirming the address in his hand, moved forward.
It was already past four o’clock in the afternoon; Beichuan Si set out towards the Inagaki family’s residence as soon as the classes ended.
According to Gangye Yoshiko’s information, the Inagaki family seed to be Tokyo Minato District natives, always wealthy.
After "Inagaki’s Longhouse" fell into disrepair, they moved back to the Minato District and settled down.
But here, too, was a problem.
Why would people from the economically superior Minato District run off to live in the more ordinary Adachi District longhouse?
They could still collect rent if the longhouse was left there, and wasn’t it still a waste to leave their hos in the Minato District empty?
This point was also part of the puzzle.
Thoughts collided in Beichuan Si’s mind.
Following the guidance of the navigation, Beichuan Si arrived in front of a two-story duplex house.
He stopped in his tracks and looked at the naplate beside the house door.
Inagaki’s na was cleanly inscribed on the naplate.
It seed this was where the Inagaki family had moved to.
Beichuan Si did not hesitate.
He put away his phone and pressed the doorbell.
Along with the crisp sound of the doorbell, a gentle inquiry from a middle-aged woman erged from the intercom at the door, "Hello, may I ask who it is?"
"Sorry to bother you, my na is Beichuan. You may not understand this, but I actually ca for a little girl."
Beichuan Si chose his words carefully, trying to convey his purpose to the other party.
"A little girl?" The person on the other side didn’t quite understand Beichuan Si’s aning.
"Yes."
Beichuan Si answered, then explained, "A little girl nad Shindai Kanari... Ms. Inagaki, you should have so impression of her.
Jing—
No sound ca from the intercom, as if the other party had hung up, completely ignoring what Beichuan Si was saying.
After about one or two minutes, a voice finally ca from the intercom, "...please co in."
The iron gate latch made a crisp sound as it opened.
"Thank you very much." Beichuan Si expressed his gratitude and then pushed open the latch gate to enter the front yard.
A flower bed was being tended in the front yard.
It was identical to the flower bed Beichuan Si had seen in "Inagaki’s Longhouse."
It must have been made by the sa person.
However, nothing was planted in this flower bed; the empty raised beds looked sowhat desolate.
Beichuan Si glanced at it and went to the front door, then rang the doorbell.
The door responded.
A face of a gentle-looking middle-aged woman appeared.
Although her expression was gentle, her eyebrows were furrowed tightly, showing a worried look.
As Beichuan Si observed the middle-aged woman, she likewise observed Beichuan Si.
However, she had no recollection of Beichuan Si’s face and a hint of perplexity appeared on her features.
But since she had already let soone into the house, it would indeed be impolite to send him away now.
And besides... she was also very interested in the topic of "coming for Shindai Kanari" ntioned by Beichuan Si.
The woman stepped aside and softly beckoned, "Please co in, Mr. Beichuan."
The two conversed as they walked toward the living room.
During this conversation, Beichuan Si also learned the na of the middle-aged woman in front of him.
Her na was Inagaki Kaori, a full-ti housewife.
Her husband’s na was Inagaki Yuushou, and he was still at work, hence not at ho.
Passing through the entryway and then turning right led to the living room.
The living room was simply furnished, similar to the Beichuan family’s, with nothing more than a sofa, television, and coffee table.
At the sa ti, there was...
Beichuan Si thoughtfully looked towards the innermost room next to the living room.
"Please help yourself." Inagaki Kaori handed the teacup beside her to Beichuan Si, then sat in the main seat, eyes fixed on him.
She was full of questions, her gaze on Beichuan Si filled with confusion.
After Beichuan Si had taken a sip of tea, Inagaki Kaori didn’t hesitate to ask, "May I know what brings Mr. Beichuan to us?"
Her question was straightforward, her voice full of bewildernt.
Certainly, it wouldn’t do to reply with sothing like "I can see the Spiritual Body of Shindai Kanari, so I ca here."
Beichuan Si thought for a mont, then spoke, "Actually, the reason for my visit is to see your daughter, Inagaki Shizuka; there is sothing I desperately want to know, hoping she could help clarify."
While speaking, he observed Inagaki Kaori’s expression.
Inagaki Kaori’s expression turned to one of surprise, seemingly astonished that Beichuan Si knew the na Inagaki Shizuka.
Then her expression quickly darkened—
She fell silent for a long ti...
Her face was a picture of gloom, and after a long while, she sighed deeply and looked toward Beichuan Si, "Knowing Kanari’s na... and also knowing about Shizuka... Mr. Beichuan, are you, by any chance, a relative of the Shindai family?"
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