Ch.002 – Thither here – 03

"You're… that gardener…" He said in an almost mumbling voice.

Why is she here?

Before he could say anything else, the woman spoke straight to the point without any intention to entertain pleasantries.

"You delivering drugs?"

His jaw hung in stillness before his expression turned to disbelief, as if the barrage of accusations since yesterday wasn't enough.

"I'm not!!"

He stares back at her cold analyzing gaze, Renji ran a hand through his messy hair, frustration crawling back to his throat like acid.

"You serious right now? I just got cleared not even five minutes ago, I haven't slept properly, and now you're at it too?"

That's it. I'm outta here, I had enough.

He reached for the car door—only to hear the faint click of resistance.

His hand froze on the locked car handle.

He turned his head slowly toward the woman, yet she didn't even look at him anymore. Unfazed. Like she expected it.

The car rolled forward smoothly, outside the tinted windows, Tokyo blurred by—snowy buildings, signboards, traffic lights, all flashing past in a midday daze. Slow first, and gradually faster.

"Where are we going?" unease filled his voice.

"You won't be going anywhere until you tell me the truth."

"Excuse me?"

"You've been sitting in KHX's garden almost every day for the last three weeks," she said flatly. "Same spot. Same hours. Same pattern. You weren't sightseeing. You were watching."

"I was—I was just—just killing time!"

She turned her head slightly, the corner of her lips lifting in mock amusement. "Killing time by taking notes?"

"I was writing some dumb stuff while slacking off just like you've said!!" Renji snapped. He yanked his sling bag, and pulled out a worn-out notebook. Flipping it open with haste and anger, he shoved it in her direction.

"It's just a manuscript, alright?! Read it yourself if you don't believe me!"

She raised a brow but didn't bite back.

"...How long have you been working as Tetsuo's deliveryman?"

"… A month… wait, why does it matter?"

"What were you doing before that?"

The question came out fast and smooth—Renji's mouth opened automatically and about to answers. But he caught himself mid-breath.

"...Why should I tell you?"

The silence that followed was heavy. He felt her watching again, like she could pick him apart just from the tension in his throat.

"What is this even? An interrogation or a goddamn job interview?"

"Can you not answer every question with another question?" she sighed. "We're not getting anywhere like this."

"Whatever it is you want to hear, I don't have the answer with me! Okay?!"

"Do you know your little stunt caused a commotion at my office?"

"Hell if I know! It's not my stuff in the first place! And who even are you? You own the company or something?!"

"I am."

"...…" He kind of expected that, but her clear answer still shut him up.

"I'm giving you a last chance… Tell me honestly—who told you to deliver it?"

"I'm just supposed to deliver food to the front desk!!"

"You didn't answer the question."

"I already did. I said no!"

"Loud denial doesn't mean truth."

"And a smug accusation doesn't mean you're right!"

Why the hell is she so fixated on this?

"What?" Renji leaned toward her, face twisted in disgust. "Is this have anything to do with you?! Or is it because of your problem that I got pulled into this shit in the first place?!"

"That's not for you to know, I'm the one taking the loss here."

Loss? Loss, you said??

"Fuck that!" his fists balled over his bag, as if letting out all of his pent-out frustration. "You think I'm not losing anything because of this stupid accident?! I missed my competition!"

Don't you act like I got nothing to lose!

His voice cracked louder than he expected while feeling the way his own chest heaved.

She didn't react. Her head stayed fixed on the road ahead as the car hummed quietly under them. But the side glance she gave to him is softer this time.

Then, after a pause, her voice came out quieter. Less sharp. Like even she herself was disappointed.

"So, you really not a drug mule?"

He stared at her for a moment, searching her expression. But she wasn't joking. She was genuinely asking. And that was his last straw.

"I WISH I WAS DELIVERING DRUGS!!" he snapped, throwing his arms up. "That guy who planted it on me should've paid me for the trouble!! At least then I could afford a nice meal!!"

The woman stunned and blinked at his answer. And Renji continues.

"I got detained, and interrogated like I'm some undercover criminal—and you think I'm the one dealing? Please! if you don't believe me, check my fridge goddammit!! it has more ice than food!"

Then just barely, the corner of her lips twitched.

She turned her face away immediately, covering it with the back of her hand pretending to cough—but her shoulders give away that tiniest hint of silent laughter.

Renji still catching his breath and clearing his throat now, all that screaming was rough on his dried windpipe. The woman beside him had returned to her composed manner while crossing her legs.

But something kept gnawing at the back of his mind ever since he entered this car.

…Wait a damn minute.

When the dots started connecting in his head, an unsettling chill crawled down his back.

I never wrote my full name anywhere on the delivery forms. Not even on the packaging label…And how did she know Tetsuo?

He then turned to face her with serious expression.

"Where the hell did you learn about me?"

She didn't answer immediately, waiting until the car stopped under a traffic light.

"One, from the police, and two, I had to dig through your records. To get you out." She said so casually like she was talking about the color of the sky.

Get me out…?

"Wait what…? You're the one who bailed me?"

"Yes."

"Why?" He's filled with confusion more than mistrust now. "You clearly still think I'm suspicious. You interrogated me the second I got in the car. Why bother getting me out if you're just gonna grill me again?"

A half a sigh escaped her lips, tinged with amusement, while fingers tapped against the car armrest as a thinking gesture.

"Let's just say I have my own way of getting to the root of things."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Then suddenly, before Renji could demand more explanation. The car came to a stop, when he sees outside, it was right in front of KHX's building.

"Okay. You can go now," the woman said in a very dismissive remark.

"Your scooter is still in the parking lot." And the silent driver on the front seat finally spoke and add with bored tone.

Throwing me away just like that, huh...

Renji grunted, the tension in his shoulders easing into a relieved sigh.

"Fine. Whatever."

The soft click of the door unlocking came just before he pushed it open. He stepped out into the familiar street. Just as he moved to shut the door behind him—An arm stretched out.

Her hand emerged from the car's shadowed interior, slender fingers holding a card between them.

Renji glanced down. "…What's this?"

"Come to the second address tomorrow. 6 PM sharp."

He stared at the card, then back at her. "...Why should I?"

The corner of her lips raised—barely, but not quite a smile.

"Maybe if you want your fridge to hold something other than ice. Especially in this cold winter."

"Don't need it." Renji answered with a scoff.

"Suit yourself," she adds quietly. "If I were you… I'd take this."

The woman stared at Renji's eyes that locked in at the name card she offered.

Then, without another word, Renji snatched the card from her fingers and shut the door with more force than necessary.

The car slid away into traffic, black and sleek against the sunlit street.

Renji looked down at the card, flipping it between his fingers. The name etched in clean silver lettering catches his attention.

'Reika Hiraga.'

--------

The car weaving among the traffic in an almost too smooth of a drive.

"Miss Reika... you sure about that?"

"Which part?"

"About tomorrow…. And him… You sure?"

"So far, his story lines up with what Tetsuo said. What do you think, Shira?"

"At the very least… I don't think he's a smart one."

"Pfft… Yes. That much is clear."

She leaned her head against the window, focusing on the bullet train that passed their car across the road.

"Anyway, it's easier to keep an eye on him where I control the exits."

A pause settled in the car until Reika continues. "I'd rather watch this man a little longer. If he's not the one smuggling things in, we have to find out this someone's planting it through him."

Shira stretches her neck, waiting for another car to pass theirs. "I've got no clear lead yet. I'll run the list again tonight—there surely someone among our usual circles might be tangled in this."

"Hmm, I'll leave that part to you."

There was a small silence before Shira spoke again.

"So, what are you planning to make him do tomorrow?"

"Don't know yet. For now? He showed up at the exact moment I needed a new driver."

Shira raised a brow, though her eyes never left the road. "…Even as a driver, don't you think you need someone more… capable?"

"...I think he'll do just fine," Reika said with a coy smirk. "Besides, he seems like the type who's fun to throw around a little. Can take some verbal abuse."

Shira's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, catching Reika's grin. The expression that hadn't changed in all these years.

"…Haaah. Just don't overdo it… Rita…"

The car picked up speed, to their next destination.