Chapter 64: My Moral Standards and Principles Are Relatively High

The atmosphere in the car on the way back was rather stifled. Ayano Asai drove with a blank expression. While she agreed that the government bore responsibility for the wave of suicides caused by citizens unable to repay their loans, she still felt a strong aversion to Hidenobu Aoyama’s enthusiasm for expanding the credit business.

Especially since she knew all too well the influence wielded by Noritomo Hikokawa, the heir to the Hikokawa family. He had the power to roll out automatic loan machines to every corner of the country—and he would undoubtedly do so. Given the current stagnant economy, the habit of overspending cultivated during the years of prosperity, and the convenience and privacy of these machines, it would be as if a demon had been unleashed, pulling tens of millions of citizens into the abyss of debt.

She herself had contributed to this, becoming an accomplice, which left her in no mood for cheer.

“Are you very close with Noritomo Hikokawa?” Hidenobu Aoyama was the one to break the silence.

Ayano Asai was quiet for a moment before explaining calmly, “When my grandfather was young, he worked at the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters and became acquainted with Juro Hikokawa, who hadn’t made his mark yet. When I was a child, I played with Noritomo a few times. After my grandfather passed away, the two families drifted apart, but on important holidays, my father would still bring me to pay a visit.”

The Hikokawa family was from Osaka Prefecture.

“Tch, must be nice,” Hidenobu Aoyama remarked sincerely. That’s what you call connections. Then he asked casually, “Did you tell him I’m your boyfriend?”

“What else was I supposed to say?” Ayano retorted, then explained further, “If I’d introduced you as a friend, he wouldn’t have bothered to meet you.”

“Fine, I’ll take one for the team,” Hidenobu replied, feigning reluctance.

Ayano nearly exploded with rage, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “Hidenobu Aoyama, you arrogant, shameless man! Do you know how long the line is of people trying to pursue me? And you still think you’re getting the short end of the stick?”

Her agitation made her chest heave beneath her sundress, the soft, pale skin pressing against the wheel, slightly deformed by the pressure.

“Inspector Asai, let’s be reasonable,” Hidenobu said, wearing a look of solemn seriousness. “If I’m not your boyfriend, can’t I still sleep with you? And I can sleep with others too—you wouldn’t have any say. But if I become your boyfriend, then I can only sleep with you. Doing otherwise would be cheating.”

“I’ve always had an eye for beauty, and I enjoy appreciating and exploring all kinds of beauty. At the same time, my standards for personal morality and boundaries are quite strict. My noble and pure character would never allow me to cheat!”

“So, you tell me, if I become your boyfriend, wouldn’t I be making a huge sacrifice?”

So long as one avoids responsibility, it’s not considered cheating!

Ayano was nearly driven to laughter by his shamelessness. How could someone so brazenly champion his own lechery and then have the nerve to claim high moral standards? Wasn’t he afraid of being struck by lightning for such nonsense?

“Hidenobu Aoyama, do you even have boundaries? You probably don’t even have underwear left! Scoundrel! You shouldn’t be a cop, you should be making movies. Isn’t that your thing—having people watch you? It’d suit you perfectly.”

Her resentment from that day in the hospital, when he had shamelessly made out with Nakako Tanaka right in front of her, still gnawed at her. With her mood soured even further by the automatic loan machine matter, she seized the chance to unleash all her accumulated frustration with Hidenobu.

Hidenobu fell silent, then said with utmost seriousness, “You’re right. Next time, I’ll use a camcorder to record everything we do.”

Japanese people should have their own Edison Chen!

Ayano was speechless.

“You idiot! Absolutely not!” Her face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment, she pulled the car to the curb, slammed on the brakes, and glared at Hidenobu.

He only gazed back at her with a mischievous smile.

Ayano held his gaze for a few moments before finally capitulating, bowing deeply. “Aoyama-kun, please forgive me. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have talked back.”

It was infuriating to have him hold something over her.

“It’s fine. As the saying goes, courtesy is reciprocal. Let me talk back to you in return,” Hidenobu replied magnanimously, granting her the same leverage.

Blushing, Ayano looked out the window at the bustling street. In a small voice, she asked, “Does it have to be here?”

Hidenobu gave a shrug—of course it did.

Ayano could only gather her hair and tie it back to avoid getting it in her mouth. Experience was the best teacher, after all.

Some cars may look parked, but they’re actually still in motion.

Schrödinger’s car.

Twenty minutes later, the car was truly moving again, and Hidenobu had Ayano drop him off at the Nohara residence.

It was Saturday, so Noriko Nohara was surely at home.

Without his keys, Hidenobu pressed the doorbell.

“Ding-dong, ding-dong.”

“Mrs. Nohara, it’s me.”

“Hello!” Noriko replied, and the gate to the villa opened slowly, remotely controlled.

As he stepped into the garden, Hidenobu saw Noriko awaiting him at the door, clad in a blue kimono, her hands demurely folded at her waist.

“Mr. Aoyama.” Noriko bowed slightly, then knelt to help him remove his shoes. As soon as his feet were free, she took his shoes and handed him slippers, repeating the gesture.

Once he had changed, she stepped aside and let him enter, closing the door and following him closely into the living room.

Hidenobu didn’t linger there but went straight to a tatami room facing the back garden, its window open so he could enjoy the view of flowers and greenery. He was as familiar with this place as his own home.

Noriko was used to serving him. After washing her hands in the kitchen, she returned with a tea set, head bowed, shuffling into the room on her knees to prepare tea.

“The profits from the automatic loan machines are too great for us to protect alone. So I’ve brought in someone powerful. He’ll purchase thirty percent of Nohara Financial Corporation’s shares, and take thirty percent of the profits. He’ll also adjust the company’s personnel, gaining some management and supervisory control, but your position should remain secure.”

Hidenobu explained directly. Noritomo Hikokawa wouldn’t stoop to play games with a small fry like him. If Hikokawa wanted to seize the company outright, he would have said so already. Since he hadn’t, it meant Noriko would remain president, at least for now. Later? That was uncertain. Everything depended on Hikokawa’s whims.

“I understand,” Noriko replied, pursing her lips. She saw the sense in Hidenobu’s approach and had no objections. She tried tentatively, “Mr. Aoyama, you’ve done so much for the company—I’d like to offer you—”

Hidenobu raised his hand to stop her.

“I don’t want any shares, Mrs. Nohara. I’ve never helped you for the money. In my eyes, you’re worth more than any fortune.” He gently lifted her chin across the table, his tone earnest.

Of course, that was utter nonsense. His real reason was that his position didn’t allow him to own shares, and he didn’t want Noriko to hold them on his behalf either—otherwise, they’d become joint property with her husband, inviting trouble.

Of course, refusing shares didn’t mean working for free. He’d collect a handsome sum each year in patent royalties from Nohara Financial.

And even without shares, as long as he had Mrs. Nohara firmly in his grasp, wasn’t her wealth his to spend? She was, in effect, working for him—making money for him to spend, and at his mercy.

Noriko felt a flush of shyness and emotion at his words. Hidenobu was several years her junior, tall, handsome, and capable. He had helped her so much, becoming her support since her husband’s death.

It was impossible not to feel something for him.

Even if their first encounter had been audacious and shameful, she could explain it away as his being unable to control his passion for her.

A rosy glow suffused Noriko’s face as she gazed at Hidenobu, her eyes brimming with allure. Her lush red lips parted as she called softly, “Mr. Aoyama~”

“Come here,” Hidenobu beckoned.

Obediently, Noriko crawled over to him, then lay across his lap, her blue kimono accentuating the curve of her full hips, ripe as a peach.

Hidenobu couldn’t resist patting her.

She trembled, every inch supple.

Noriko squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment.

With a sly grin, Hidenobu trailed a finger across her lips. She met his gaze and slowly parted her lips, taking his finger into her mouth.

“Did you find the factory I asked about?” Fortunately, a quarrel with Ayano earlier left him less eager now—otherwise, he might not have been able to restrain himself.

“I’ve contacted three factories and will inspect them one by one starting tomorrow,” Noriko replied.

“This needs to be done quickly.” With their new backer, the sooner the loan machines launched, the better.

“Yes, of course!” Noriko responded promptly.

“Mrs. Nohara, you really are beautiful—a true enchantress,” Hidenobu said, caressing her cheek.

Noriko flushed, bashful yet pleased. But when her gaze drifted to the garden, where her late husband had once planted roses for her, guilt and sorrow welled up. Here she was, lying in another man’s arms, unfaithful both to her deceased husband and her current lover. What a wanton woman she was.

“What’s wrong?” Hidenobu noticed the shift in her mood and asked with concern.

Noriko didn’t want to answer. She only wanted to lose herself in a frenzy of passion and forget her troubles. Clenching her lips, she reached for his belt.

“Noriko!” Hidenobu pushed her hand away, holding it gently. “I’m not here just to indulge in your body. Even just holding you like this is enough for me.”

He was, after all, in a reflective mood—his desire was willing, but his body was not.

Noriko, hearing his sincere words and gazing at his earnest face, felt even more ashamed. She collapsed into his arms and wept.

Hidenobu sighed helplessly. Such is life!

The phone rang just then.

“Moshi moshi?” he answered.

“Inspector Aoyama? This is the Akasaka Police Department. Your sister-in-law, Haruko Aoyama, has gotten into a bit of trouble. If it’s convenient, could you come by?”

“What?” Hidenobu was startled, leaping to his feet. “Was she hurt?”

“Ah, no… She hurt someone else.”

“That’s… unfortunate,” Hidenobu replied coolly. “I’ll be right there.”