After parting ways, on Kenji's side...
"Keiko, is your arm alright? I think we need to go to the hospital and get you treated. It looks bad."
Akiko asked my sister in a caring way. I don't think she has ever shown this much care to me. I am feeling jealous.
It should have been me who got hurt.
Since the one who got hurt is my sister, I want to know what happened there for that idiot to get so riled up.
"Akiko, what happened there when I went to the restroom?"
I asked her.
"I told you what happened, right?" my sister interrupted.
"Do you take me for a fool? He wouldn't have reacted like that if it was just a stranger pushing you," I said in a serious tone.
"Well, when you and Satoru weren't there, a bald guy first approached me asking for directions, and I told him what he asked. When I was done, he said that I was his type and wanted my LIME account. I told him that I have a boyfriend, but he didn't listen to me or Keiko and kept pestering us.
Then Keiko got angry and told him to fuck off. After that, he grabbed Keiko's hand, and that's when Satoru came. He first told the guy that if we weren't interested, he should leave. But the bald guy told him to leave with his tail tucked between his legs if he wanted to live and called him a 'kid.'
Satoru took it personally. Then the bald guy's friends came and told him not to mess around with kids, and they left.
That's what happened."
She replied.
"That's why he looked like he got owned. It's hilarious, haha."
I started laughing at the word the other guy used to mock him.
Keiko immediately said,
"Stop laughing. He was trying to protect us."
"It's more like he was trying to protect the other guy from you two, but that guy definitely crossed the line," I replied.
"No, he was a Ki user and was about to attack us," my sister answered.
"Yeah, we didn't even know until Satoru pointed it out," Akiko said.
"Did he have any weapons with him?"
"No," Akiko said.
"Then what's the problem?" I asked.
"He looked like a close-range fighter, so he might have carried something in his pockets. Knuckles, knives... things like that."
Keiko answered.
The cab driver's expression changed.
He had looked normal until then, but after hearing about weapons, he started sweating and looked frightened.
I assured him there wouldn't be any trouble, and he seemed somewhat relieved.
"He was a close-range fighter?" Akiko asked.
"Yeah. His hands were rough and strong, and he had workout injuries that a close-range fighter would have."
My sister replied.
"Then Satoru knew all that and still tried to protect us? He's really a genius."
Akiko said in amazement.
Genius?
Yes, for swordsmanship.
Not for deduction.
I think I know how he figured out that the guy was a Ki user. He simply got riled up by the guy's provocation. That's all there is to it.
There is no deeper meaning.
He doesn't have the brains to back up that confidence. I thought to myself.
And this is definitely not me being jealous.
"Protect you? I am sure you both would have been surprised if that guy had a weapon, but you still would've beaten him. It would've been a two-versus-one."
I said.
"I was talking about his intention. He decided to protect us."
Akiko emphasized.
"At the end, the other guy escaped?" I asked.
"We can't really say he escaped. It's more like both fighters agreed to back off."
Akiko answered.
"Who would've won if they had fought?" I asked again.
"The bald guy."
Both of them answered immediately.
"I think he's going to be moody and sad about this for a few days, so let's be considerate, okay?
And what's the reason for him suddenly wanting to meet his brother?"
I asked.
"Yeah, I wonder too."
Akiko replied.
"I think it's about his brother and our sister dating."
Keiko said.
"What?
How did he find out about that?"
I asked.
"I told him when we sat on the bench before leaving."
She answered.
"What have you done!? He's going to kill Daiki!"
Akiko shouted.
"Yeah, I think so too. So, text Daiki, Kenji."
Keiko said calmly.
The moment she said that; I sent Daiki a message.
A minute later, he called.
I told the two of them, and Keiko asked me to put the call on speaker.
After I answered, he said,
"Hello."
"What happened?" I asked.
"What do you mean, 'what happened'?"
He sounded confused.
"I mean the meeting with your brother. Or are you still with him?"
I asked.
"What? Meeting with my brother?
Who said that? I'm at home right now. Wait, let me show you."
He switched to a video call.
Sure enough, he was sitting in his room.
"See? I'm in my room.
And who told you I was meeting my brother?"
He asked.
"It was your brother who told us. I thought he was going to ask you about your relationship with our sister."
Keiko replied from the back seat.
"Oh! Sister-in-law, you're there?
But who told my brother about my relationship?"
He asked calmly.
"It was me. About two hours ago.
"I thought he had been left in the dark for too long, and it felt like we were fooling him, so I told him."
Keiko replied.
"Oh. If it was you, then I don't have any complaints.
But my brother didn't even text me about the relationship, and honestly, I don't think he would mind that much.
So don't worry. If he ever asks, I'll handle it."
He said confidently.
"Okay then. See ya."
I replied.
"Yeah. Good night."
He ended the call.
"I don't understand him at all, he lied to us about meeting his brother, and he didn't want to eat with us.
I think he's getting bored of us.
Or maybe he got himself a girlfriend."
I said.
"What!?"
Akiko shouted in surprise.
"Yes, Think about it.
He didn't want to hang out with us in the evening. He planned to go out and have dinner alone, and then he actually went and ate alone.
Isn't that suspicious?"
I asked.
"No, I don't think that's the case."
Keiko replied.
"Yeah, I agree with Keiko.
It's probably just his rebellious phase."
Akiko said.
"You sound like you're his mother."
I laughed.
After that, we discussed how to confront him tomorrow and ask whether he had a problem with us or whether he had secretly gotten himself a girlfriend.
We arrived at the Minka at around eleven-thirty at night.
Akiko cleaned Keiko's wrist and applied ointment to it.
Then the two of them headed to their rooms.
Meanwhile, I stayed behind in the Washitsu, waiting for Satoru to return