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「Heartless Woman　part 5」 91: Hiroshi was typing on his laptop keyboard. Rino had asked him to investigate Saeko's past using a photo of her face. "Why don't you ask a detective instead?" Hiroshi had initially pushed back against Rino's request. "I just need information from the internet. There might be someone who looks like her. I want you to identify her among the boxers I fought against." Rino added. "I'll give it a try, but don't get your hopes up," Hiroshi replied, though he felt a slight urge to live up to Rino's expectations. "Thanks, Hiroshi! I know you can do it! So, I'm counting on you! Oh, and it's kind of urgent!" Rino cheerfully said before hanging up. "I've really become her errand boy," Hiroshi muttered with a wry smile as he powered up his laptop. Using the photo and name of Saeko that Rino had sent, along with Rino's list of opponents, he decided to narrow down his search. First, he ran the photo through a facial recognition program, which returned nearly a thousand hits. Most of the results were actresses, likely due to the beautiful features. Narrowing it down with "boxing" and "Rino" significantly reduced the results, but the search didn’t seem to work very well. Resigned, Hiroshi decided to investigate each entry in the list one by one. When he searched "Momiji, Rino, boxing," very few images or videos were accessible despite the large number of hits. In fact, most of the content seemed to have been deleted. There were many posts on message boards, with several threads each having nearly a thousand entries. It seemed that a brawl incident had become a major topic of discussion. At the end of one of the threads, there were complaints about video removal requests and account suspensions, and the thread ended in chaos. One thread titled "Thank You, Momiji" caught Hiroshi's eye. The first post in the thread grabbed his attention. "On [date], Momiji passed away peacefully. To all who were moved by her fighting spirit, please gather here." The link led to a photo of a smiling Momiji. She appeared to be in her early twenties, dressed in Muay Thai attire, and her face looked just like the photo of Saeko that had been sent to him. It seemed that posts had continued even on the anniversary of her death last year. Hiroshi decided to send an email to the thread's creator. "My apologies for the sudden email. My name is Hiroshi. I’ve been asked by a friend of Rino, who fought against Momiji, to find someone. I’m reaching out because the person in question, Saeko, closely resembles the Momiji in the linked photo. I apologize if this is a case of mistaken identity." Shortly after, a reply came from the thread's creator. "Thank you for reaching out. Handle: Kaede. I’ve been the long-time head of Momiji's fan club. I am aware of Saeko. However, due to concerns about information leakage, how about meeting in person to discuss further? I look forward to your response." It was only natural, Hiroshi thought. Kaede had specified a café near Tokyo Station as the meeting place. A link to Kaede's SNS account was also included. Hiroshi replied, confirming his availability along with a link to a video of Rino's matches. That night, Hiroshi charged his smartphone and went to bed. The next morning, when he woke up, he saw a friend request from Saeko. Surprised, he immediately accepted it. Almost instantly, his phone rang. "Hello?" "Is this Hiroshi? I'm Saeko, Momiji's daughter. I heard from Kaede that you were looking for me." Her voice was young but polite. "Oh, I see. Kaede told me we should meet to discuss things later. My name is Hiroshi. I was asked by a friend of Rino's to look for you..." Oh no, I wasn’t prepared for this. I didn’t have a story ready. "Is it from Satoko?" Saeko asked unexpectedly. "Yes, that's right. Do you know her?" "Yes, I'm quite familiar. But isn’t it Rino who’s looking for me?" This was completely unexpected. Unaware that he was being probed, Hiroshi revealed the whole story. Saeko's sweet and friendly responses gradually lowered Hiroshi's guard. Including the circumstances of how he met Rino, Hiroshi confessed everything to Saeko. Finally, they agreed that Saeko would join them when they met Kaede, and then ended the call. Before he knew it, two hours had flown by. Looking at the clock, he realized it was already past 9, and he had completely missed his first class. 92: Rino had been feeling down ever since she received the email from the Chairman yesterday. When Satoko reported this to the Chairman at the gym, he told her, "Let's just leave her be for now." Rino skipped her practice at the park and asked Satoko to go to school in her place the next morning. Satoko felt a bit nervous about going to school for the first time in a while. Her heart was pounding as she walked into the classroom, but the atmosphere in the room was different from before. Thanks to Rino, her classmates were all smiling from the morning, and Satoko felt a sense of relief from the positive vibe. "It feels so enjoyable..." She thought to herself, but then she noticed that Saeko was absent. "Maybe she caught a cold?" Satoko worried, but she also felt a bit relieved that Saeko wasn't there. It seemed her body was still on guard against Saeko's presence. The morning classes ended, and it was lunchtime. Usually, Rino would have a meal of nutritional supplements and milk and then take a nap, but today, Satoko had brought a simple homemade bento. While eating alone, a few female students called out to Satoko, and they ended up having lunch together. "Lunch while chatting is the best!" Feeling that way, Satoko thoroughly enjoyed the time from the bottom of her heart. After school, Satoko visited the gym alone and started her practice. She reported to the Chairman that Rino was still feeling unwell. Suddenly, with a loud noise, the gym door was flung open. Startled, Satoko turned around to see Saeko standing there, firmly planted like a statue. Her hair was hanging down in front, obscuring her expression. When their eyes eventually met, Saeko slowly approached. She seemed different from usual. Saeko stopped in front of Satoko, sniffled, and brushed her hair back. Her eyelids were swollen, and her eyes were red. Tears ran down her cheeks, leaving distinct tracks behind. Saeko wiped her tears with both hands and forced a smile. "Let me see Rino." Those words froze Satoko in place. Her mind went blank, unsure of how to respond. "Let me see Rino." Saeko repeated her request. Tears once again began to fall. "I don’t think you can meet Rino anymore." Satoko managed to squeeze out the words, but she couldn’t grasp Saeko's true intentions. What did Saeko know? Saeko took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. However, her smile was eerie and somehow lonely. "That's enough, Satoko." Saeko's voice trembled, but she maintained her composure. "I know everything. Hiroshi told me. He told me that Rino is inside you, Satoko." Satoko gasped at those words. The atmosphere in the gym froze. Rino remained silent. Watching Satoko’s reaction, Saeko continued. "That's cowardly, Rino. Why don't you tell me directly? You’re just running away, aren't you? Did you forget about me?" Her voice, though trembling, was filled with anger. The Chairman noticed Saeko's unusual behavior and took a worried step forward. "Saeko, that's enough. Calm down," the Chairman said, trying to reach out, but Saeko cut him off without turning around. "Leave me alone, Chairman. I'm talking to Rino. I noticed it long ago, that Rino was inside Satoko. I just didn't have the proof. But I kept waiting for Rino to notice me. But you, you forgot about me and only remembered when you accidentally found a photo of my mother, didn’t you?" Saeko's voice was filled with anger and disappointment. She stepped closer to Satoko, her eyes mixed with anger and sadness. Satoko could do nothing but stand there frozen. Rino, feeling the urge to respond to Saeko's words, remained silent within Satoko. "My mother endured six years of terrible treatment without running away. And you, you destroyed everything in the end, and then forgot all about it..." Saeko's voice carried pain and resentment. The other gym members were overwhelmed by the intensity of her emotions. The Chairman tried to speak again, but Saeko brushed off his attempt. "I... I was planning to challenge you in boxing. I was thinking of encouraging you if I ever got the chance to meet you. But that's enough. Now, I just came to tell you how I feel." Saeko wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. Her face showed a resolute expression. "Coward!" With those words, Saeko forcefully opened the gym door and walked out. Left behind, Satoko stood silently. She could feel Rino's presence trembling quietly inside her, but Rino still said nothing. 93: The grilling at the gym was intense. The Chairman had found out that Hiroshi had been used to investigate Saeko, and he was furious that the information had been leaked. His words, a mix of anger and disappointment, lashed out at Rino like a whip. Even Satoko, unable to hold back her emotions, threw sharp words at her. Unable to bear the criticism from both inside and outside, Rino lowered her gaze and apologized in a trembling voice. However, her apology disappeared into the void and did nothing to quell their anger. The questioning grew even sharper, cutting deep into Rino's heart. She had reached her limit. "Let’s leave it for tomorrow!" Rino shouted and, without waiting for their reactions, bolted out of the gym. "Don't run away, coward!" Satoko's shout echoed in her head, but Rino just kept walking through the night streets. As she continued down the road, Rino pulled out her phone and called Hiroshi. "Hiroshi, can I come over now?" Her voice was barely audible. Hiroshi immediately replied, "Sure." When she entered Hiroshi's room, Rino silently looked down and sat heavily on the bed. "What should I do, Hiroshi... I really messed up." Rino's voice was trembling. "I talked big, but now everyone's turned their backs on me. I'm weak, and in the end, I just kept running away." Hiroshi, choosing his words carefully, asked, "Was it because of what I told Saeko?" "No... but it’s true. There’s nothing I can do about it... I don't even know what to do anymore..." Rino lost her words and buried her face in Hiroshi's bed. Overwhelmed by emotions, her tears flowed out like a broken dam. Sensitive to her distress, Hiroshi quietly handed her a towel. Rino took it and continued crying until the towel was soaked through. After a while, Hiroshi, gathering his courage, gently placed a hand on Rino's shoulder. "Don't touch me so casually." Rino warned. Surprised, Hiroshi quickly withdrew his hand. After she had finished crying, Rino suddenly returned to her usual expression and looked up, sniffling. "Thanks, Hiroshi. I feel better now." "I didn't really do anything..." "Hey, can I have some ice cream?" Rino asked cheerfully. And then, Rino began to vent. "Coward... Isn't that awful? If Saeko's serious, I'll go confront her myself. I can't help forgetting things, can I? But, you know, I feel relieved. I can tell Saeko didn’t do it. I’m sure of it. When I get back, I need to ask Satoko what really happened with Saeko!" Rino's gaze sharpened. For a moment, Satoko was taken aback by the sudden coldness in her expression. 94: Rino ran full speed on her way back to the shabby housing complex. She desperately hoped that this was just an ordinary case of bullying orchestrated by Saeko. But that hope crumbled, and as everything fell into place, the most troublesome option remained. There was only one person it could be. Even Satoko, who had been so confident, was now silent. When she got home, she decided to tell the truth. As much as Satoko could handle. They met again in the park that night. Satoko stood with her arms crossed, avoiding eye contact and remaining silent. Seeing her like that, Rino felt sure that Satoko was hiding something. "First of all, I apologize! I'm sorry!" Rino bowed her head. "I don't forgive you," Satoko's voice was low and heavy. "I see. But I already apologized," Rino responded calmly. "Are you running away again? Coward!" Satoko stomped the ground, venting her emotions. "You’re like a broken CD. I’ve already cleared my head at Hiroshi’s place, so that won’t work anymore! Satoko, you’ve lost!" Rino taunted her with exaggerated facial expressions. "We're friends, right? Can't you trust me? It’s like you’re accusing me of lying if you need to hear the truth." Satoko kept kicking the ground, creating a small hole beneath her feet. "So frustrating!" Satoko kicked harder, sending a small stone flying into Rino's face. Satoko gasped but then quickly looked away again. "Satoko, you’re my best friend. I don’t doubt you," Rino said quietly. "Then why are you taking Saeko’s side?" Satoko demanded. Rino placed her hands on both of Saeko’s shoulders. "Saeko was protecting you, wasn’t she?" Rino asked, and Satoko flinched, nodding slightly while still looking down. "You realized something, didn’t you?" Rino asked gently. Unable to hold back her tears, Satoko covered her face with her hands and began to cry. She kept nodding repeatedly, in small movements. "Good girl! This conversation is over!" Rino smiled and then shifted to a more serious expression. "But the one who really needs to apologize is me." Rino gently pulled Satoko's hands away from her face and made eye contact. "The target was me from the beginning. I’m truly sorry for getting you all involved." Rino spoke directly, without looking away. "I believe Saeko is behind everything," Rino added. "How do you know?" Satoko asked, still sobbing. "Because her methods are exactly the same," Rino replied quietly. "You might not want to remember what happened with Kanako, but the Kanako I saw didn’t flinch even after having her bones broken by the police. She waited patiently, taking her time. Every move I made was calculated. She probably even anticipated that I would possess you." Satoko was at a loss for words, staring at Rino in stunned silence. "Let's go over the details... another time," Rino said after taking a breath. "If Saeko was the mastermind behind the bullying and was manipulating the class, there are ways to fight back. But if Saeko is innocent, then we don’t know where Saeko is hiding." "Satoko, listen carefully. Before I became Rino, I was a police officer. And I’ve died twice." "The first time, Saeko died as well." Rino’s words were heavy and deeply resonated with Satoko’s heart. Satoko’s face contorted in fear, overwhelmed by what she couldn’t understand. As Satoko sat down and began to cry, Rino simply watched her in silence. 95: Here’s the English translation of your text: --- Rino returned from the park and woke up to find it was the middle of the night. If Saeko went to school, there was no doubt that Sayoko would notice. It might already be too late. A sense of dread washed over her. Driven by a sense of urgency, she sent an emergency short message to the three of them. "Urgent: Meet at the gym at 6 AM tomorrow." The Chairman quickly responded with, "Understood." Next was Hiroshi. "Rino-san, did something happen? How about 8 AM?" No, Hiroshi, that’s not it. She replied, "Be on time," and received a reluctant response, "Alright, alright, I got it." That settled it. I'll deal with him later. Unexpectedly, Saeko's reply came quickly. "No way 😜" "…" Rino immediately responded. "I'll tell Momiji in the afterlife. I'll tell her to make sure her stupid daughter listens." Sure enough, an enraged Saeko called her. The first time, Rino ignored it. She ignored the second call too. And on the third call, she answered after just one ring. "What the hell, you coward!" Without saying a word, Rino hung up. As Saeko continued to call relentlessly, making it impossible to even type a message, Rino blocked her number. Next, she faced an onslaught of emojis on social media. Struggling with the settings, she typed a message offline and sent it online. "Stop your whining. Be at the gym at 6 AM tomorrow. Don’t run away, coward!" Finding it too annoying to keep checking, Rino turned off her phone and took a nap. The next morning, when she turned her phone back on, it was flooded with missed calls, and there were nearly 1,000 messages on social media and email. It was still ongoing. Saeko might be waiting outside the house, but that could be interesting too… Rino thought with a smile. She got ready, slipped a flashlight from her bag into her pocket, a modified store-bought one with increased brightness—her only weapon at the moment. Rino left the house just as Ema was returning home and headed for the gym. Saeko wasn't in front of the housing complex. Hoping she would come to the gym, Rino ran. She arrived at the gym at 5 AM. The lights inside were already on. Was she too late…? Rino cautiously entered with the flashlight in hand. The Chairman and Hiroshi were already there. The Chairman had come immediately after receiving the message, while Hiroshi had arrived at 4 AM to wait. Hiroshi, you're more reliable than I thought. Now, they just had to wait for Saeko. At 5:30 AM, a shadow appeared at the gym door. It was Saeko. The door swung open, and Saeko rushed inside. Rino relaxed her entire body, exhaled quietly, turned on the flashlight, and in an instant, blinded Saeko. Saeko lost her sense of direction and stumbled, and Rino caught her. "Thanks for coming. I misunderstood you, but you were protecting Satoko all along, weren't you?" Saeko struggled and hurled insults, but gradually she weakened and became quiet. "I get it, now let go." As Rino loosened her grip, Saeko suddenly lunged forward and pressed her lips against Rino's. After a long kiss, Saeko said one thing. "Don't get the wrong idea. It wasn’t for Rino." Rino blushed, her eyes widening in surprise as Satoko shouted. "It was my first kiss! Saeko stole it!" Rino muttered softly. "Mine too." 96: The gym was enveloped in a tense silence. Rino took a deep breath and began to speak quietly to everyone in front of her. "Satoru, can you hear me?" She asked as she looked around. She was certain he was there. "I know you're here. Come down." As if responding to her words, multiple footsteps echoed from the stairs. Satoru and several trainers appeared. Seeing Satoru, Rino gave a small nod. "You managed to return to active duty. That’s good news!" Satoru smiled wryly at Rino's words, but before replying, he held his watch to his ear, checking something. "Kaoru-san, are you here?" Rino asked, and Satoru nodded with a weary expression. He then informed Rino, "She's coming in now." Rino turned her gaze toward the gym entrance. A black van pulled up, and from the back seat, Kaoru, dressed in a black suit, stepped out. She was accompanied by several aides. "Congratulations on your promotion, Chief Cabinet Secretary," Rino remarked with a sarcastic smile. Kaoru exhaled lightly and glared at Rino. "You've kept everyone up all night," Kaoru said as she stepped forward, her demeanor resolute. "You know you're under surveillance. This is a serious situation, right? It's truly aggravating." "I'll say this upfront. If anything is discussed here, everyone will be arrested." Rino responded calmly to those words. "That’s why I called you here before you started work. Why don’t you start talking, Kaoru-san?" "I can't!" Kaoru’s immediate response didn’t surprise Rino at all. "Or should I be the one to talk?" Kaoru's face twisted as she glared sharply at Rino. Seeing this, Rino sighed and said, "That was a joke." "She's involved. The target is me. My judgment faltered, and I involved civilians. Just tell them what you can. I