Play The Part

"Where the hell have you been?" Hana yells.

"I told you, there was an emergency at the office. I came as soon as I could." Kei says as he throws his jacket on the sofa.

"Are you sure you weren't with one of your whores?"

"Watch your mouth, Hana," Kei threatens. "Yuta is in the living room."

"Oh, now you care about your son?"

"Enough." His voice is raw, like a wild animal ready to tear a prey apart. Hana knows better than to utter another word. "I have no idea what has gotten into you. We have been married for nine years, I thought we were both clear on what this marriage is."

Hana doesn't care that he has many mistresses, as long as she has the Ichihara name and funds. Something has gotten her nervous, though.

The housemaid in Tokyo called her this morning and told her about the guest who visited yesterday. Samantha Martin. The name tastes bitter in her mouth. She knows about their history together, and about what it took for Kei to leave Samantha and be with her. She cannot risk having that threat around.

She unconsciously bites on her thumbnail. 'I have to do something about her.'

"Can I have some privacy now? I have work to do." Kei's words are cold and clipped.

He collapses on his chair after Hana slams the door behind her. He lies back in the leather chair and closes his eyes.

'Just one thing after the other.'

He takes a deep breath and then remembers Sam's face. It was in the Ferris wheel, where she finally confessed to him. He had been teasing her for so long, but she finally came out and said it.

He was planning on teasing her a bit longer, but when she suddenly kissed him, all he could think of was holding her in his arms. But then a painful memory makes Kei wince. He doesn't have the time to dwell on it, though. His phone brings him back from his memories.

"Yes?"

"Mr Ichihara, the investigation about the warehouse is done. It definitely wasn't an accident." Kei squeezes his phone with anger. "We found evidence that the fire was started deliberately. Unfortunately, we found no prints of the culprit."

"Rewatch the CCTV footage and record every single person in and out of the warehouse. Anybody even a block or two away from the place is a possible suspect. This is your top priority now, Matsumoto."

"Yes, sir."

Kei throws his phone on the desk and takes another deep breath. He is almost sure about who is behind the fire, but he needs evidence to destroy them once and for all. 'I have worked my whole life to prove myself, and I will not let anyone ruin what I have built.'

"No one." Rage is running through Kei's body, but when he sees a little head peeking from the threshold, every drop of anger leaves him.

"Hey, buddy."

"Daddy, are you busy?"

"For you? Never."

Yuta runs to his dad and hugs him. He is the most precious thing in Kei's life, his light when he can't see anything but darkness.

"Can we play outside for a bit, Daddy?"

"What should we play?" Kei carries him and walks toward the door.

"Can we play football? My friend always tells me that he plays football with his dad."

Kei smiles. "Sure, we can do that."

The two run around the yard, kicking the ball for a while. Yuta giggles every time his father lets him score and pretends to fall while trying to catch the ball. They immediately stop when Hana appears.

"We don't want to be late to our own event," she says with a dissatisfied expression. "You should start getting ready.

Kei kisses his son's forehead and promises him to play soccer again soon. He leaves the garden and hops into the shower before starting getting ready.

The evening gala is dreadful. Kei has to pretend that he is happily married and that he is glad to see all the guests attending. When in fact, he knows that half of them are jealous of his success and the other half are trying to destroy him.

He stands strong though, his smile is unwavering and when he occasionally puts his arm around Hana's waist, it looks sincere. Hana plays her part well too. No one could guess that they go for days without talking to each other, sometimes even weeks. They both understand the importance of appearances, though.

"Uncle Takaya," Hana calls cheerfully.

Kei clenches his jaw for a second before smiling. He cannot stand the man. And even if he looks past his annoying personality, his greed and shamelessness make him even more irritating. He is sure that Takaya Watanabe was somehow linked to the warehouse fire.

"How is my favorite niece?" Takaya hugs Hana.

"I am your only niece." Hana laughs.

"How are you, Mr Watanabe?" Kei holds his hand up and Takaya takes it immediately, shaking it vigorously.

"We have been family for so many years, but you still call me so formally," Takaya says.

'Disgusting. I would never consider a leech like you as family.'

"You know how Kei is," Hana interjects with an awkward smile.

"Yes, yes," Takaya laughs.

"I don't see aunt Sora," Hana says.

"She was not feeling well. She sends her regards, though." Hana nods. "I heard about the fire." Takaya turns back to Kei. "I hope that the damage is not too serious."

It takes Kei a moment to get his anger in check. Watanabe was provoking him, either that or he was too arrogant to think that Kei was onto him.

"No business talk tonight." Kei flashes a dazzling smile. "Tonight, we celebrate. I hope you enjoy your evening, Mr Watanabe."

"Fair enough." Takaya nods. "Congratulations on your new venture."

"Thank you," Kei answers. "If you'll excuse me, I should greet the mayor." He nods slightly before walking away.

"I hope you have nothing to do with that fire, uncle," Hana utters when Kei is out of earshot. "You shouldn't push him, you know how dangerous that can be."

"Of course not, dear." He smiles. "I know where my loyalty lies, with family."

Hana stares at him for a moment. "I am glad to hear that."

It would be a disaster if her uncle made trouble, especially before figuring out why Samantha Martin was at her house and whether Kei knew about it. Him postponing his trip to Kyoto was too much of a coincidence.