Holmes of Kyoto: Volume 17 [Parts 1 to 4] by Mai Mochizuki

Author:Mai Mochizuki
Language: eng
Format: epub

2

Meanwhile, Kiyotaka went to visit Kazuyo in Gion—only to wind up at the Komatsu Detective Agency anyway. He happened to run into her near Kiyamachi Street.

“Oh, you were looking for me? This works out perfectly, then.”

The elderly Kazuyo sat on the office’s black leather sofa, giggling as she held her teacup. She was a former geiko—a Kyoto geisha—who ran her own geisha house. After retiring, she now lived in a townhouse in Gion. She was well known in the neighborhood, and geisha house proprietresses went to her for advice.

“I made lots of ohagi, so I was coming here to share them with the office,” she said, moving the cloth-wrapped package next to her onto the table. Ohagi was a confection made with glutinous rice and red bean paste.

“I see. Thank you.” Holmes smiled from the sofa on the other side of the table.

“Sorry for the trouble,” said Komatsu, staying at his desk so that he could work at his computer while listening. “I appreciate the ohagi. Thank you,” he said awkwardly.

It wasn’t the first time Kazuyo had brought food to the office. She had shared sweets and inari sushi with them several times. This was the second time for ohagi, so he already knew they were delicious. He was sincerely happy.

“It’s fine,” Kazuyo said with a laugh, looking up. “I wanted to see dear Ensho’s face too. I’m glad he’s here today.”

Ensho had just come downstairs after hearing the noise. “‘Dear’?” He gave a strained smile.

Komatsu’s shoulders twitched slightly. Surely, no one had ever called this man “dear” before. Thinking about it, there was a lady on Teramachi Street who called Kiyotaka “dear” too.

“Kyoto women are fearsome,” he muttered quietly, his expression softening.

Ensho headed to the kitchen, exasperated, and took a bottle of mineral water out of the fridge.

“So, what did you wish to know?” Kazuyo asked with a warm smile, putting down her teacup. There was something intimidating about her aura. She must’ve been wary of what Kiyotaka was going to ask.

The young man smiled and said, “It’s regarding the parent-child relationship between Atsuko Tadokoro and Hiroki.”

Kazuyo blinked as if she hadn’t been expecting that subject. “Did something happen with them again?”

“Did you know that they’re opening a second shop in Gion?”

“Of course. This time, Atsuko is the owner and Hiroki is in charge of running the place. Are you concerned about that?”

“A little, yes.”

“I understand, but he’s not going to scam people anymore.”

“I hope so. However, Atsuko called Hiroki—her own son—her ‘bad karma.’ I’m curious about why those words came up.”

“Ah.” Kazuyo gave a bitter expression.

Ensho came out of the kitchen and sat down unassumingly at the desk he used to use. He seemed to be interested.

“Yes, well...” Kazuyo sighed. “As a child, Hiroki was a good boy, but after puberty, he took a problematic turn. Whenever something didn’t go well, he’d often say things like, ‘I’m destined to fail at everything I do anyway.’”

“Destined?” Kiyotaka asked softly with a slight tilt of his head.

Komatsu awaited Kazuyo’s next words, feeling similarly confused.

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