near the receptionist table that he would like to meet her boss. She told him to wait a few minutes before she called Mr. Smith through the phone and said that Akashi Seijurou was here.
Seijurou waited for her until he saw an old man who was dragged by the bouncers and they entered a room at the corner of the corridor. He blinked at the woman who still talked through the phone and he decided to find out what happened in that room. Every step he took as he was closer to the room made him could hear the sound of blows and also the moan for mercy which he guessed was the sound of the old man's.
He peeked from the door that was not closed tightly. His eyes widened when he saw the bouncers tortured the old man by hitting his face for countless times.
"Please, I-I beg you to let me—"
"Save your lies, old man! We don't need your words! Say something if you pay off your debt this time!" the leader of the bouncers interrupted him. He was going to hit the old man's face again until someone opened the door.
"Stop it."
All of them turned their head and they faced Seijurou who was standing in front of the door. His right hand was in his pocket while the other one was holding the door's handle. He took a few steps closer until he was in front of the bouncers.
"A-Akashi-san."
"What do you mean, Akashi-san?" the leader asked him. Of course they knew who was talking with them now. He was an Akashi, the only heir of the richest business man they ever knew. And they knew that this company had a good relation with Akashi's.
"I said to stop it and keep your hands off of him. I don't like any violence here, moreover if the victim is an old man."
"But he had debt of this company since half years ago and he can't pay off of it until now."
"Then I will do it," Seijurou words made them in surprised, "I will meet your boss and tell him that I will pay all of his debt. So, just go away from my sight now."
Finally, the bouncers decided to do what was Seijurou said. After they left, he came to the old man and helped him to stand up.
"Thank you so much for your help, Akashi-san. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome, Sir. I will accompany you to the nearest hospital so your wound can be handled by the doctor. Can you wait here for a moment? Like I said before, I will meet Mr. Smith and tell him about your debt."
He didn't wait for the old man's respond because he left immediately to meet Smith. It just took 15 minutes until Seijurou came back and handed him the proof of payment. The old man looked at him and said thank you again to Seijurou. Seijurou himself also didn't know why he did something like that. He even didn't recognize the man but he felt what he did was right.
After that, they were going to the hospital where Akashi senior was hospitalized there. As he waited for the man and the doctor, he tried to find the room where his father was. He saw Shigure was in the room with the nurse.
"Seijurou," he heard his father called his name. Seijurou felt relieved to see he was alright. At least, for this time he was really okay.
"It's good to see you wake up, father."
"Thanks. I just talked to Kawamura about the company. And it's good since you are here and everything will be perfect to be talked now."
"What do you mean?" Seijurou asked him.
"You know, I'm too old to come back to office and handle everything. Even it's so difficult for me to stand without any help. So, I just called my notary to progress everything about inheritance rights from me," he looked to Seijurou and Shigure, "For you both."
"What?" he let out his control now, "What do you mean with him too, father?"
"Seijurou, I have said it this morning, right? I believe in him, of course I believe you can take control for everything in my company. But it's not enough. I need someone who's established enough to take this job and I know Kawamura is the best choice. When you're married and older than now, I will give you the right to take the place."
Seijurou refrained himself to not to say anything of his protest.
"I have to go now."
And without waited for the respond, he just left the room.
.
.
.
That most expensive and limited edition car was drove off in front of the familiar house. Seijurou starred at the front house, it seemed that he had come here before. But he really didn't remember it now. When he helped the old man to enter his house, the old man turned his head to him.
"I don't know how to say thank you for all of what you've done to me."
"Just say 'thanks' is enough, Sir. Moreover, you're like my father too and I don't like violence anyway," he said politely. When he tried to open the door in front of him, it was opened by a girl. And Seijurou knew her.
"Dad!" she cried out when she saw so many wounds on her father's face, "What happened to you?!"
"It's better if you let your father to come in, Satsuki."
She looked at Seijurou now. Her eyes widened, showed him enough that she was surprised of his appearance here.
"Akashi-kun?"
"You both know each other?" the old man asked, "Satsuki, help me, dear."
She put his arms around her shoulder with Seijurou helped her too. They helped him to lay on the bed in his room and after that Mrs. Momoi was surprised enough to see her husband came back from Smith's company with this condition. Satsuki and Seijurou decided to leave the room and let Mrs. Momoi talked to her husband.
They walked towards the parlor together. It had been so long since the last time they met in the last match of their university. Yes, they were in the same university and same faculty. They took business but they were rarely getting along together since she was with her friends and he was with the shogi. They just talked about the strategy on the court or everything about basket. And it was 5 years ago and now it was the first time they met again.
"How have you been, Akashi-kun?" she asked to crack the silent.
"Fine and I think you too, right?" he asked her back.
She smiled. "Of course you know it. By the way, do you want drink a cup of tea with me?"
"Well, I don't know," his act was weird. Of course, he didn't forget how horrible her skill in the kitchen. Well, he knew she just wanted to make a tea. But, he was absolute, right? And he felt it was a bad idea to let her made him a tea.
"Oh, please. I beg you, seriously. At least, we can talk anything after I say thank you to you for your help to my father," she said.
"Um, okay. But, let me do it by myself, okay?"
"Err, okay."
They walked towards the kitchen. She prepared everything while Seijurou tried to make two cups of tea for them—he let her to help him, at least. When she poured the hot water to each cups, her left hand accidentally got the splashes of hot water. He turned his head to her and suddenly he grabbed her left hand to make sure that it was fine.
"Is your hand fine?" he asked her. She nodded while muttered thanks to him. After that, they came back to the parlor and sat on the sofa.
"So, you're really busy with your work now?" she asked him. Seijurou sipped his tea for a while.
"Well, yeah."
"What is it? Is everything fine?" she gave him a curious look.
"What do you mean?" he asked her back. Seriously, he didn't really understand about her question.
"No, it seems that you have a big problem in your life. I can see it from your eyes."
Seijurou looked at her. Honestly, sometimes her attitude really made him impressed of her. He knew that she was smart, kind, lovable and even she was beautiful, he acknowledge it of course. She always succeeded to impress him, especially with her ability to analyze the weakness of their opponent while they were still in Teiko and in university. Yeah, he knew, she was almost perfect—wait, suddenly he got an idea.
"Sat-chan," they heard a woman voice called her. She muttered him to wait for a moment while she came to her mom. After that, she came back and told him that her father wanted to meet him and said something. Satsuki leave the room with her mom as Seijurou sat on the chair next to the bed.
"Thank you so much for your help, really I don't know how to reply your kindness, Akashi-san."
He smiled politely to him. "I just do what I think is the right choice, Sir."
"But I'm deeply indebted to you, son. Please, say something."
He kept silent for a while. Honestly, he didn't really think if it was a good idea.
"If so, um, can you give me permission to take your daughter to meet my father tomorrow morning?" he asked him. And, of course, it made him a little bit surprised with his question.
"But…, for what?"
"Well, um, I'm planning to introduce her to my father…"
"…"
He breathed in and out before continued his words. "… as my future wife.