Chapter 45: CHAPTER 44 - The Affinity Dilemma (4)
As the Takahashi family warmly welcomed Satoshi and his children, Chiyo and Sachiko, into their home, the atmosphere became lively. Tomoko went the extra mile to throw a simple get-together, inviting close friends and family to celebrate their arrival.
"Brother, it's good to see you well," Hiroshi exclaimed, handing Satoshi a drink.
"Thanks," Satoshi replied quietly. Unlike his brother, Satoshi wasn't much for socializing or pretending to be close with his family. His primary concern was the well-being of his own family—his wife and kids. Despite having the option to live a more laid-back life like his brother, Satoshi chose to put his life on the line for the sake of his loved ones.
"You don't need to worry about the kids; I'll personally take care of them," Hiroshi declared with a broad smile, making sure his words reached the ears of the guests. Hiroshi knew the importance of maintaining appearances, even if it meant putting on a show using his own family. Satoshi, aware of his brother's theatrics, understood that this was merely a facade for the guests. They needed to project an image of unity, even if it meant exploiting their own family dynamics.
Kenji, the diligent servant, was taken aback as he saw a finely dressed man standing at the front door. It was evident that this visitor was not part of the planned gathering, and Kenji was curious about his purpose.
"Can I help you?" Kenji asked politely, eyeing the stranger with a mix of curiosity and caution.
"My name is Takashi Akahane. I'm here to see Mr. Takahashi, if you please," Takashi stated without offering any explanation for his unexpected visit.
Kenji maintained his professional demeanor but needed more information before allowing this uninvited guest to meet the head of the household. "May I ask the reason you wish to see the master? We have ongoing guests, and it's crucial to ensure that their reputation is upheld."
Takashi Akahane nodded, understanding the concern. "I bring important news regarding a matter that concerns Mr. Takahashi directly. It's urgent and requires his immediate attention."
Kenji, now sensing the gravity of the situation, considered the urgency of Takashi's words. He excused himself momentarily to inform Hiroshi about the unexpected visitor and the urgent nature of his request.
Meanwhile, the family gathering continued, oblivious to the unforeseen turn of events happening at the front door.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you the reason for my visit. I need to speak directly to Mr. Takahashi," Takashi explained calmly and resolutely.
Reluctantly, Kenji went to call Hiroshi, who was irritated at being abruptly summoned. When he saw the man with the briefcase standing by the entrance, he wondered why such a distinguished lawyer had come to visit him. Hiroshi was well aware of Takashi's reputation; he hailed from a powerful family of terrans, making him one of the best lawyers in the city.
"Lawyer Takashi, what are you doing here?" Hiroshi greeted the man with politeness and respect.
"Mr. Hiroshi, I came to give you this," Takashi stated, pulling out a brown envelope from his briefcase. The envelope contained the purpose of his visit.
Hiroshi took the envelope and opened it. As his eyes scanned the contents of the letter, disbelief crept over his face. "What is this? What do you mean by this?" he demanded, his voice rising with a mix of shock and anger.
The room fell into an uneasy silence as Tomoko scanned through the papers handed to her by Hiroshi. The contents of the letter seemed to carry a weight that hung in the air, causing an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty. Kenji, who had briefly glimpsed the letter's contents, shared a look of disbelief with Hiroshi.
"I'm sorry, I cannot answer your question. I'm only here to deliver you this. Please be prepared in two weeks' time," Takashi's words echoed in Hiroshi's mind as he tried to comprehend the gravity of the situation.
Tomoko, noticing the departure of the mysterious visitor, turned her attention back to her husband. She observed the pallor of his face, the unease in his hands, and realized that something grave was unfolding.
"What's wrong, dear? Why do you look so pale?" Tomoko asked, her voice calm and measured, masking the growing concern beneath.
Hiroshi, unable to contain the shock and anger, handed the papers to his wife. As she perused the contents, her eyes widened in disbelief. The words on the document revealed an unexpected move from Ichiro, one that threatened the family's stability.
"We're in trouble," Hiroshi admitted, his voice shaky. The revelation had stirred a storm of emotions within him. "I was right, that bastard really needs to die. He thinks he can just walk in here and steal everything from us."
The implications of Ichiro's actions were sinking in, and the Takahashi family found themselves on the brink of a crisis they had not anticipated. The next two weeks were destined to be filled with uncertainty and perhaps a confrontation that had been brewing beneath the surface for far too long.
Upon discovering the shocking documents, Tomoko clutched them tightly to her chest, gasping for air. The revelation was enough to make her feel like she might faint from the sheer shock of it all.
"That bastard must have been after the money this whole time," Hiroshi seethed, his mind already racing to formulate a plan to eliminate the threat.
Tomoko, still recovering from the revelation, looked at her husband with worry. The once comfortable life they enjoyed seemed to be slipping away, and the fear of living on the streets loomed over her.
"What should we do?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Call Omori right away. The two of them must spend the night together immediately," Hiroshi decided, urgency in his voice. He recognized the importance of securing an heir to Ichiro's wealth before making any drastic moves against him. "Darn it, if only my stupid sister didn't make such rules in her will."
The limitations set by Ichiro's mother in her will had always been a thorn in Hiroshi's side. The fortune she left behind was for Ichiro's benefit, but it was Hiroshi who had been exploiting it for his family's needs.
"We should call Ryoma for some help," Tomoko suggested, believing that their son might be the only one capable of solving this problem. The weight of their family's actions was beginning to catch up with them, and desperate times called for desperate measures.
"He'll only kill Ichiro; just call Omori right now. We need to finalize the engagement tonight," Hiroshi urgently instructed, stressing the importance of securing Ichiro's commitment. The engagement served as a tether, a way to keep Ichiro under control. If Omori could get pregnant, it would solidify their hold on him, and they could manipulate him through familial obligations.
Unbeknownst to Ichiro, who was engrossed in assisting Ichika with her experiments at the laboratory, a storm was brewing back home. Hiroshi's anxiety drove him to expedite the engagement plans, fearing that Ichiro's newfound strength and defiance could pose a threat to their control.
Meanwhile, at the laboratory, Ichiro's unintentional interference with Aizawa's work had caused frustration.
"Ichiro, how many times have I told you not to put that in," Aizawa scolded, her impatience evident as she removed the pot from the stove and decided to redo the experiment.
Aizawa, known for her exceptional talent as a light affinity user, was Ichika's closest friend. Despite her rudeness, her skills were unmatched, placing her among the top ten light affinity users. Ichiro's accidental disruptions were testing her patience, but little did they know that Ichiro's presence might hold the key to groundbreaking discoveries in their research.
Ichiro muttered to himself in frustration, feeling increasingly exasperated with the ongoing experiments. Despite his efforts to assist, Aizawa's constant curses and complaints filled the room. Since Ichika had suggested that Ichiro could be of help, he found himself stuck with Aizawa throughout the entire process.
-Report: The likelihood that the meal with have healing effect is 2.5%-
As the system generated a report on the healing effect likelihood of the meals, Ichiro couldn't summon the energy to care. Countless ingredients had been wasted, time had slipped away, and Ichiro had consumed a considerable amount of experimental dishes. Yet, the highest healing effect percentage they achieved was a mere 4%, and that was when Ichiro had accidentally contributed to the concoction.
Guided by the system, Ichiro realized he could prepare a meal with a significantly higher healing effect percentage, especially given the abundance of rare and ancient herbs at their disposal. He was shocked to see Aizawa casually wasting these precious ingredients as if they were commonplace.
"Hey, can I cook some omelet? I don't want to eat poison anymore," Ichiro declared bluntly, paying little heed to Aizawa's reactions.
"Do whatever you want. And, by the way, this isn't poison," Aizawa replied, unfazed, as she continued with her culinary experiments.
One of the primary reasons their healing effect percentages remained low was Aizawa's lack of cooking skill. She approached the task haphazardly, tossing ingredients in without a clear plan, resulting in a series of culinary experiments that failed to reach their potential.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone