“Yilin, Takamiya agreed to host the unveiling party,” said Aoi, three days after that night.
“Huh?” Yilin froze in the middle of putting on her apron. It was her first shift in three days, and she’d just arrived at Kura. She hadn’t been expecting such a swift answer. “Really?”
“Yes, I heard he was overjoyed. Holmes offered to hold it at the Yagashira residence, but Takamiya insisted on doing it at his own place. So that’s where it’ll be.” Aoi smiled as she continued with the opening preparations.
“That makes sense,” Yilin said, tying her apron. “I wouldn’t want to hold it at another person’s house either.”
“Exactly.” Aoi nodded cheerfully. “Holmes is good at steering things the way he wants.”
Yilin suddenly recalled the conversation she’d had with Kiyotaka at the river. “Kiyotaka sure is perfect, huh?” she asked as if to gauge Aoi’s response.
“Yeah,” Aoi replied nonchalantly as she folded the cloths that had been draped over the antiques.
“You think he’s perfect too?”
Aoi blinked. “Oh, um, yes. I think his public-facing image is as flawless as it gets.”
From the way she spoke, it was clear she didn’t think everything about him was perfect. Perhaps Kiyotaka had been telling the truth.
Aoi tilted her head, wondering why Yilin had fallen silent. “Is something wrong?”
“Every time I see Kiyotaka, I’m surprised by how perfect he is,” Yilin said in a serious tone. “He’s handsome and smart, and he knows how to be considerate. I thought you must’ve fallen in love with him because of that, but the other day, Kiyotaka said you don’t think he’s ‘a perfect man in the slightest.’ Is that true?”
Aoi nodded weakly. “How do I put this? Like I said, I think he’s perfect in some aspects, but there are a lot of areas where he isn’t.”
“He also said you think he’s ‘lacking in ways, troublesome at times, and worryingly eccentric.’ Is that true?”
“Oh...” Aoi gave an awkward smile. “Well, yes.”
“How is he eccentric?” Does he really have scandalous interests? Yilin waited with bated breath.
Aoi looked like she was struggling to find the words to explain, but eventually, she said, “For example, you know how he has an extreme love for Kyoto and antiques? The more time you spend with him, the more you realize it’s to the point of eccentricity.”
“I can see that, yes.”
“And at his core, he’s egotistical and blackhearted.”
“Blackhearted...” I assumed Aoi was simply attracted to Kiyotaka, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“But what’s amazing about him is that he achieves three-way satisfaction. He ends up helping other people in order to fulfill his own desires.”
“Three-way satisfaction?”
“It’s a Japanese business principle.”
Aoi proceeded to explain the concept. It had originated with the merchants of Omi, a former province, and stated that when three parties—seller, buyer, and society—all benefit, it leads to great profit. Kiyotaka applied this principle to not only business but his personal life as well.
“Um, what does that mean?” Yilin tilted her head.
“The three parties become ‘yourself, the other person, and society.’ For example, when Holmes shows kindness to someone, that person will be happy, and when someone is happy, the overall mood in the area improves. That helps Holmes’s reputation grow, and good opportunities will come his way through word of mouth. Holmes always says that he’s nice to people for his own benefit.”
“Huh?”
Yilin thought back to the night Kiyotaka had watched to make sure she had entered her apartment. Had that show of kindness been for another purpose? The idea was rather shocking.
“He also brags that he’s only nice to me for his own benefit,” Aoi continued. “He says everything has ulterior motives.”
Yilin’s eyes widened. “Wait, doesn’t it bother you that he says that?”
“I’m sure some people wouldn’t like it, but I’m happy that he’s honest with me.” Aoi blushed.
She seems like a normal girl at first, but maybe she’s eccentric too.
“Oh, so about the party, Holmes says he wants to know your schedule so we can decide on a date and stuff. Can you tell me which days you’re busy this month?” Aoi asked, picking up the tabletop calendar on the counter.
“Um...” Yilin shrugged. “I don’t have any plans at the moment, so anytime is fine.”
“I see.” Aoi put the calendar back and smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too,” Yilin said, smiling back.
She felt a bit nervous as she remembered the mission she’d been assigned.