Chapter Fifty: Saori Amamiya

In the end, the blond-haired thug still failed to escape.

He had barely made a move before Anhe brought him down with a swift kick. The other patrol officer, who had already been maintaining order at the scene, quickly stepped in to restrain him as well.

Anhe had thought that an armed robbery in broad daylight would require him to go to the police station to assist with the investigation. To his surprise, the woman who had been held hostage simply made a phone call, and the matter was dropped without further consequence.

Watching the patrol officer escort the blond thug away, Anhe once again heard the narrator’s voice ring out in his mind.

"Tsk, as you watch the two of them leave, you feel a pang of regret. You did your best, but you still couldn’t save those two. But it doesn’t matter anymore. Thanks to your actions, the person beside you has taken an interest in you. It’s a bit dangerous, but to die beneath the peony is an elegant way to go—just make sure you win her over before her vigil ends..."

A vigil?

Anhe thought of the woman’s black kimono; he had assumed it was simply part of her unique tastes. It now seemed he had misunderstood.

As for which two people the narrator meant when it spoke of those he failed to save...

Anhe’s face remained composed, but his gaze stole a glance at the woman.

Despite her expression of fear, her eyes were far too calm, as if she had never been truly worried for her own safety.

And with the narrator’s warning that contact with her would be dangerous, it was clear this woman’s identity was anything but simple.

Anhe was still mulling this over when the woman suddenly turned to look at him.

Previously, Anhe hadn’t taken a good look at her because of the chaos. Now, as their eyes met, a sense of familiarity surged within him.

With the skill of "Memory Playback," Anhe quickly recalled that this woman had frequented the café where he worked.

In fact, she was a regular; during the few days Anhe had been working, she had visited at least three times.

Anhe recognized her—Makoto Tachibana. And naturally, she recognized him as well.

After all, she had just been discussing Anhe Yusheng with the second daughter of the Amamiya family.

To think it was this man...

Makoto mused silently, but her face broke into a gentle smile as she bowed in thanks. "You really helped me out just now, sir."

"It’s nothing, just a small gesture," Anhe replied with a casual smile. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he hesitated, "Have we met somewhere before?"

"Are you trying to strike up a conversation with me, Mr. Anhe?" The woman’s smile turned bashful, but she addressed him by his surname. As she spoke, she reached into her collar and, after a moment, produced a business card, which she handed to him.

"I’m Makoto Tachibana. I heard you play the piano at the café before. I liked it, so I asked the waitress for your name."

"I see." Anhe didn’t fully believe her explanation, but his expression became one of sudden realization as he accepted the card. It was warm to the touch and faintly scented with milk. Besides her name, it also listed a contact number.

Without a word, Anhe slipped the card into his pocket. Remembering he still had other matters to attend to, he didn’t linger; after a few polite words, he turned and left.

After he departed, a burly man with a mole quietly approached Makoto.

"Both have been dealt with. What should we do next?"

Makoto’s smile faded as she cast him a sidelong glance and replied indifferently, "Rough them up a bit, then get rid of them."

...

On the other side.

After parting with Makoto, Anhe spent several minutes locating the café mentioned in the phone call.

No sooner had he entered than a middle-aged man in black, wearing a jade ring on his finger, approached him.

"Are you Mr. Anhe?" he asked politely, though there was no hint of inquiry in his tone.

"Yes, that’s me," Anhe replied with a nod. Without another word, the man said, "Please follow me," and led the way deeper into the café.

Anhe followed him to a booth tucked away in the farthest corner. He had expected to be greeted by a fierce-looking bald man or perhaps a stereotypical mob boss from a crime drama.

To his astonishment, however, the one sitting in the booth was a blonde, twin-tailed girl.

Meeting Anhe’s puzzled gaze, the girl smiled faintly and gestured to the seat opposite her. "Please, have a seat."

Anhe nodded and sat down.

The girl retrieved a stack of photographs from her small bag and placed them on the table, pushing them toward Anhe before folding her hands primly on her lap.

"What’s this?" Anhe asked. When the girl didn’t reply, he picked up the photos and began to look through them.

The first was the back of a young man. At a glance, Anhe recognized himself in the image.

At that time, he hadn't had much contact with Nadeshiko Kurorai.

Maintaining his composure, Anhe examined the rest of the photos before setting them down and turning to the girl, his expression growing more peculiar.

"So, you’re not with the group that made trouble at the café the other day?"

"Of course not," she replied, lifting her chin slightly. Though she continued to smile, her tone betrayed nothing but disdain for those people.

At her words, Anhe scrutinized her more closely.

Her fluffy golden hair was styled in twin ponytails; her delicate features were as exquisite as a porcelain doll’s. With her fair skin and the ornate pink dress she wore, she looked every bit the part.

Suddenly, a name popped into Anhe’s mind.

Saori Amamiya—the half-sister of Sawu Amamiya.

The moment the name occurred to him, the familiar translucent screen appeared before his eyes.

Name: Saori Amamiya

Current Status: A girl searching for redemption

Current Favorability: 0 (Disgust)

The following endings are currently achievable:

① Fallen Fangirl. Requirements: Refuse all her requests and wait for events to unfold, regardless of favorability. (Reward: 50% of the Amamiya family’s assets.)

② Belonging Exclusively to You. Requirements: Accept some of her requests at less than 70 favorability; Saori offers herself in exchange. (Reward: All Amamiya family assets.)

③ The Imprisoned, Lost Girl. Requirements: Help Saori through her difficulties until she comes of age, keeping favorability below 60. (Reward: Hall of Fame-level culinary skills.)

④ The Bird Who Pursues Her Dreams Freely. Requirements: Help Saori overcome her troubles and achieve her dreams. (Reward: Hall of Fame-level vocal talent.)

⑤ Sisterly Bond. Requirements: Both Sawu Amamiya and Saori Amamiya must reach favorability over 90. (Reward: A luxurious villa in Hallstatt.)

...