Chapter 287: Rescue

Not long after, Lei Yin arrived at a three-story arcade. There, he spotted a short-haired girl anxiously waiting.  

“Gennai, you’re finally here,” Aikura Ai sighed in relief upon seeing him.  

“What’s the urgency?”  

Instead of answering immediately, Aikura Ai peeked into the arcade and then pointed toward a boy playing a racing game. “Gennai, do you see that boy in the red T-shirt?”  

Lei Yin followed her gaze. The boy was short, about 14 or 15 years old, with a slightly childish face.  

After a glance, Lei Yin asked, “I see him. What about him?”  

In a hushed voice, Aikura Ai said, “When I was shopping at the mall near my apartment earlier today, I passed by that boy. At that moment, I overheard his thoughts. To put it simply, he’s planning to commit suicide. I didn’t know what to do, so I called you.”  

So that’s the situation. Lei Yin looked at her with mild exasperation. “And what do you plan to do about it?”  

“I… I want to help him.”  

As expected. After thinking for a moment, Lei Yin said, “Ai, do you realize that countless people commit suicide for various reasons every day? Do you think you can save all of them? Besides, every person’s life is their own to control. If they choose to give up, how many times can you intervene?”  

“But didn’t you save me once, Masashi? I can’t bear to see that boy end his life so easily. You told me yourself that people’s thoughts are fleeting, didn’t you? Maybe he’s just having a moment of despair, and when he calms down, he might deeply regret this decision.”  

As she spoke, Aikura Ai couldn’t help but recall the image of Ms. Hiroyama from the sanatorium, who had attempted suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills, only to end up with severe dementia.  

Lei Yin wanted to tell her that if it weren’t for their connection, he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to save her. After all, he wasn’t some savior of humanity. And even if such a savior existed, they couldn’t possibly save everyone.  

Seeing her earnest, pleading eyes, Lei Yin realized there was no avoiding it this time.  

Lightly tapping her on the head, Lei Yin said helplessly, “You’re impossible. Fine, tell me everything you know.”  

Hearing his agreement, Aikura Ai immediately brightened with a smile.  

“I’ve been following him since the mall, listening to his thoughts. I’m not entirely sure, but I think he’s a recent middle school graduate. Apparently, he was scolded harshly for failing to get into the prestigious private high school his mother wanted him to attend. Because of this, he ran away from home and is planning to kill himself,” she whispered.  

Lei Yin scoffed inwardly. Wanting to die over something so trivial—such a person wouldn’t be missed.  

Glancing at the boy engrossed in his game, Lei Yin said, “He looks pretty happy playing that game. Maybe he’s changed his mind.”  

Aikura Ai shook her head. “His plan was to come to the amusement park to enjoy himself for a bit, eat something nice, and then say goodbye to life.”  

“He sure knows how to enjoy himself. So, are you planning to watch him all day?”  

“I’m afraid I’ll lose track of him if I leave.”  

If only he had a tracker, this wouldn’t be such a hassle. Suddenly remembering something, Lei Yin asked, “You’ve been following him all this time—have you eaten lunch?”  

Aikura Ai hesitated awkwardly. “Not yet.”  

“Go get something to eat. I’ll watch him here.”  

“It’s fine. I’m not hungry.”  

“No arguments. Go. And get me a few cans of beer while you’re at it.” He pulled out his wallet to give her money.  

“No need, I’ve got money. I’ll be back soon.” With that, she ran toward the amusement park’s mini-mart.  

Watching her leave, Lei Yin smiled wryly. “What a troublesome kid.”  

※※※

While sipping the tea brought by the housekeeper, Naoko carefully observed the luxurious and spacious living room, her expression gradually turning puzzled.  

As far as she knew, Yoshiko’s father was just a regular white-collar worker. Unless he had struck it rich, he shouldn’t have been able to afford such a high-end villa. That left two possibilities: either Yoshiko had earned the money herself, or her husband had bought it for her.  

Having grown up as the daughter of a company president, Naoko was no stranger to wealth. But because her father was always busy with work, she never felt that having money made life particularly happy. In her view, having just enough to live comfortably was sufficient.  

Still, seeing her old friend living so comfortably and well-off gave her a sense of relief.  

Turning to Amy, she saw the little girl completely absorbed in a cartoon playing on the TV. Naoko couldn’t help but smile.  

Naoko noticed that Amy was entirely different from other children. She was always so well-behaved and quiet, rarely disturbing others. This unique, serene demeanor made her all the more endearing.

Unable to resist, Naoko asked, “Amy, do you like the show?”

The little girl replied with slight frustration, “I understand some parts, but not others.”

Naoko smiled. “That’s because you don’t fully understand Japanese yet. How about I set aside some time every day to teach you Japanese?”

Amy thought for a moment and then nodded.

At that moment, Naoko heard footsteps outside. Looking up, she saw a middle-aged man walking in.

He appeared to be around 50 years old, slightly overweight, with thinning hair. The branded suit he was wearing indicated that he was not a driver or a servant.

When the man entered the living room and saw a stranger and a little girl seated on the sofa, he froze for a moment.

Although she wasn’t sure of this man’s connection to Yoshiko, Naoko politely stood up and said, “Hello, I’m Hasegawa Naoko, a high school classmate of Yoshiko’s.”

“So, you’re Yoshiko’s classmate. Please, have a seat.” The man’s eyes briefly showed a glimmer of astonishment upon seeing Naoko’s appearance, but he quickly masked it.

After a brief hesitation, Naoko decided to ask, “Yoshiko is taking a bath at the moment. May I ask who you are?”

“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Yamamoto Kazuo, Yoshiko’s husband.” As he spoke, his gaze occasionally drifted toward Naoko’s mature, alluring figure.

Although she had already guessed as much, hearing it confirmed still surprised Naoko. She quickly bowed and said, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Yamamoto.”

Yamamoto was about to ask more questions when the sound of footsteps interrupted him. Naoko turned to see Momo Yoshiko walking in, now dressed in a casual gown and drying her hair with a towel.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Naoko. Oh, you’re back already?” Yoshiko’s expression became slightly unnatural when she noticed Yamamoto, but she quickly smiled and walked over.

Sitting down beside Naoko, Yoshiko said, “Weren’t you on a business trip to Osaka? I didn’t expect you back so soon. Naoko, let me introduce you. This is my husband, Yamamoto Kazuo. Kazuo, this is my high school friend, Hasegawa Naoko. We haven’t seen each other in years, and we happened to meet at the mall today.”

Yamamoto smiled and said, “We’ve already introduced ourselves. I didn’t expect Yoshiko to have such a beautiful high school friend. Is this adorable little girl your sister, Ms. Hasegawa?”

“No, she’s the child of a friend of Naoko’s fiancé. They’re temporarily taking care of her,” Yoshiko explained.

“Ah, I see. By the way, Amuro’s daughter just graduated from Canada, and he’s throwing a celebratory dinner party. He invited me to attend, so why don’t you come with me?” Yamamoto said to Yoshiko.

“Alright. Should I wear formal attire?”

“Of course. Amuro didn’t specify, but he’s likely invited other guests, so it’s better to dress appropriately.” Turning to Naoko, Yamamoto said, “Since Yoshiko has reunited with an old friend, why don’t you join us, Ms. Hasegawa?”

Already feeling the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Naoko quickly declined, “Thank you, but I was just about to leave. Yoshiko, let’s catch up properly next time.”

Yamamoto smiled and insisted, “Please don’t be so formal, Ms. Hasegawa. You’re an old friend of Yoshiko’s, and it’s been years since you’ve seen each other. Spend more time with her. The dinner party is just at a friend’s house, nothing to be nervous about. Please don’t refuse.”

With Lei Yin absent, Naoko didn’t want to attend an event hosted by strangers. She politely declined again, “I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Yamamoto, but I really wouldn’t want to intrude. I’ll take my leave now.” She stood up and took Amy’s hand, preparing to leave.

Seeing that she was determined, Yamamoto glanced meaningfully at Momo Yoshiko.

Yoshiko froze, her expression turning grim.

Noticing her lack of response, Yamamoto’s demeanor grew increasingly stern, his gaze cold and intense.

Realizing he was angry, Yoshiko’s expression shifted again. After a moment, her eyes took on a dim look of resignation. She quickly walked to Naoko’s side, grabbed her hand, and smiled. “Naoko, it’s so rare for us to meet. Can’t you spend just a little more time with me?”

Naoko quickly explained, “Yoshiko, please don’t misunderstand. I just don’t want to trouble you. Besides, I don’t know anyone else there, so it wouldn’t be very enjoyable for me. Since I already know your address, I can visit you another time to catch up.”

“It’s just a casual celebration at a private home. There’s nothing to worry about. We can find a quiet spot to chat once we’re there,” Yoshiko insisted.

Yamamoto Kazuo interjected, “Yoshiko is right. It’s just an ordinary celebration. Ms. Hasegawa, why not accept Yoshiko’s invitation?”

Seeing her friend’s persistence, Naoko felt it would seem a bit cold to continue refusing.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “How about this? I’ll call my fiancé first to see if he can make it back in time for dinner. If he can’t, then I’ll go with you. How does that sound?”

“Alright,” Yoshiko agreed.

While Naoko was making the call, Yamamoto Kazuo said to Yoshiko, “You should go get changed.”

Yoshiko glanced at him before slowly heading upstairs.

In the quiet room, Yoshiko quickly changed into a newly purchased evening gown and fastened a sparkling diamond necklace around her neck.

As she sat in front of the mirror applying makeup, she suddenly stopped and stared silently at her reflection. After a moment, her eyes took on a dazed, confused look.

She remained that way for a while before letting out a soft sigh and picking up her brow pencil to resume her makeup.

When she returned to the living room, she smiled and asked her old friend, “So, what’s the verdict?”

Naoko replied helplessly, “My fiancé said he’ll likely be back very late tonight and told me not to wait for him. I’m sorry for the trouble.”

Before Yoshiko could respond, Yamamoto Kazuo smiled and said, “You’re too polite, Ms. Hasegawa. It’s getting late, so we should leave now. It takes about half an hour to drive to my friend’s place, so if we leave now, the timing will be just right.”

As they stepped out of the villa, Amy suddenly tugged at Naoko’s hand.

“What is it, Amy?” Naoko asked, looking down.

“Naoko, I don’t like that man,” the little girl said, glancing at Yamamoto Kazuo’s back.

Having spent enough time with Amy, Naoko knew that “don’t like” essentially meant “dislike” in her vocabulary. Although Naoko herself felt that the man didn’t seem like a great match for Yoshiko, he was, after all, her friend’s husband. She couldn’t say much, so she simply held the girl’s hand and reassured her.

※※※

“Hey, stop worrying. That kid still has so much food left. He won’t be leaving anytime soon. Just relax and eat,” Lei Yin said, noticing Aikura Ai’s distracted demeanor.

“Oh.” Aikura Ai snapped out of her thoughts and picked up her fork and knife to continue eating.

Lei Yin took a sip of red wine and remarked, “You don’t seem very accustomed to eating Western food. Not used to using knives and forks?”

Aikura Ai smiled awkwardly. “That’s right. I rarely go to Western restaurants.”

Lei Yin chuckled. “I’m not a big fan of Western food either, but it’s nice to have a change of pace occasionally. To be honest, that kid has pretty good taste—choosing such a fancy restaurant for his last meal. When we left the amusement park, I thought he’d opt for a fast-food place like most kids.”

Aikura Ai glanced at him and muttered, “Sorry, Masashi, for dragging you along with me all day.”

Lei Yin sighed. “Hey, how many times have you apologized already? If girls are too nagging, it lowers their appeal. Don’t just eat the steak—try this foie gras. I heard it’s the signature dish here.”

His casual tone and ability to steer the conversation elsewhere filled Aikura Ai with a strange sense of gratitude.

Once she calmed down, Aikura Ai realized that most of the other diners in the restaurant appeared to be couples. The dim candlelight cast a romantic glow over the paired-up guests, creating an intimate atmosphere.

What would others think of us? The thought made her heart race and her face grow warm.

Stealing a glance at Lei Yin, she saw him calmly enjoying his meal and sipping wine, seemingly unaffected by the ambiance.

She chastised herself inwardly and tried to compose herself.

Just as she managed to regain her composure, Lei Yin’s voice startled her. She looked up hurriedly and asked, “Were you just talking to me?”

Lei Yin smiled. “I didn’t expect you to have such a habit of zoning out. I was asking how your practice is coming along.”

“Practice? What practice?” Aikura Ai was momentarily confused due to her earlier thoughts.

Lei Yin pointed at his own head.

Aikura Ai immediately understood and replied, “It seems like there hasn’t been much progress.”

Lei Yin comforted her, “Take your time. After all, you have plenty of it. Just be careful not to let anyone notice anything unusual about you; otherwise, it could be troublesome.”

“I understand. Thank you, Masashi.”

Lei Yin, slightly exasperated, said, “It seems like the words you say most often around me are either ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘Thank you.’ Do I look like your school’s discipline officer or something?”

Aikura Ai blushed, embarrassed.

Suddenly, Lei Yin said, “You’d better eat faster. That kid seems like he’s about to give up.”

Aikura Ai immediately turned to look and saw that the boy had stopped eating and was now sitting still in his chair.

Seeing this, Aikura Ai quickly sped up her eating.

After leaving the restaurant, the boy promptly got into a taxi, forcing Lei Yin to drive and follow the cab.

“Masashi, where do you think he’s going?”

“There’s no need to waste time guessing. We’ll know just by following him. But honestly, this feels a bit like we’re paparazzi stalking celebrities. Too bad you’re not majoring in journalism; this could’ve been good practice.” Lei Yin joked as he turned on the car’s radio.

Aikura Ai laughed, “You always seem so composed. If I were by myself, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Lei Yin glanced at the shy but kind-hearted girl with a touch of appreciation.

It wasn’t long before Aikura Ai found out where the boy was going and what he intended to do.

Looking at the surrounding nightclubs and their provocative photos and explicit advertisements plastered on the doors, Aikura Ai’s face turned redder and redder until she couldn’t lift her head anymore.

Lei Yin wasn’t surprised that the boy had come to the red-light district. Since he was planning to end his life, he probably wanted to indulge himself beforehand. For a hormonal teenager, the allure of physical pleasure far outweighed games or anything else.

However, judging by his nervous demeanor, Lei Yin could tell it was likely his first time visiting such a place.

Looking at Aikura Ai, who was practically hiding her chin against her chest in embarrassment, Lei Yin chuckled, “Still want to keep following him?”

Aikura Ai didn’t dare respond, merely trailing behind him nervously, afraid of getting separated.

Lei Yin smiled and stopped teasing her, maintaining a steady distance from the boy.

As the boy’s appearance screamed underage, he was quickly turned away from two clubs, leaving him visibly frustrated. But as he walked further, a woman dressed provocatively approached him and said a few words. The boy’s eyes lit up with excitement, and he eagerly pulled out his wallet to show her its contents. After inspecting it, the woman took his arm and led him toward another street.

“Masashi, is that woman…”

Lei Yin smirked mischievously, “Regular clubs won’t dare admit someone like him; the fines are too heavy if they’re caught. That woman looks like an unlicensed freelancer. She’s probably taking him somewhere to do business.”

Hearing words like “freelancer” and “business,” Aikura Ai felt her face flush again. She couldn’t help but glare at him in exasperation and amusement.

As expected, the woman didn’t take the boy to another club but led him straight into a hotel.

After they entered, Lei Yin pointed to a coffee shop across the street. “Let’s wait in there until he comes out.”

Aikura Ai nodded and followed him quietly into the coffee shop.

In the slightly awkward atmosphere, about an hour passed before Aikura Ai noticed Lei Yin looking out the window with an amused expression.

Curious, she followed his gaze and saw the boy stumbling out of the hotel. His steps were unsteady, and his pale face looked utterly drained, as if he had just competed in a triathlon.

Knowing full well the reason for his state, Aikura Ai’s face grew hot again. She quickly looked away and pretended to drink her coffee.

Lei Yin stood up. “Let’s go.”

Aikura Ai immediately got up to follow him.

After leaving the hotel, the boy flagged down a taxi and got in. Since they didn’t have time to retrieve Lei Yin’s car, he and Aikura Ai also hailed a cab to continue tailing him.