After the main event was concluded, it was time for the guests to mingle around each other while enjoying the feasts provided by the tea house. Tsubaki stood close to Kanako as she introduced her to the guests who approached them."You"re so popular, Mrs. Fuse." Kanako handed Tsubaki a plate of fruit tarts she got from the buffet table. They were just taking a rest after having countless small talks with the other guests. "It seems like I have been forgotten whenever they started to talk to you."
Tsubaki laughed when she heard her. She took a fruit tart from the plate and removed the wrapper around the pastry. "What to do? You"ve been reduced to the supporting character now."
"Ha!" Kanako scoffed. She took a bite of the tart as she narrowed her eyes, looking at Tsubaki in disdain. "Maybe I should get married too. So, the attention would be back on me since all the ladies always love to hear gossips about a new bride."
Tsubaki laughed again, she shook her head helplessly. She really couldn"t comprehend how did Kanako"s brain work.
"I need to make a call." Tsubaki took a sip of her tea. She grabbed her white clutch and stood up from her seat. "I"ll look for you later."
"Yes, yes~ It"s not like I don"t know you want to call your dearest husband," Kanako replied dejectedly. "Ai~ It"s so good to have a husband."
Tsubaki smiled. She walked outside the hall while she secretly looked at the director. The woman was apologizing to the guests who wanted to talk to her as she moved away from her seat, her eyes had been fixated on Tsubaki"s disappearing figure.
Tsubaki entered the restroom and the woman followed in soon. She sneaked a glance towards the older woman"s face from the mirror. Tsubaki washed her hands calmly as the woman got nearer and nearer to her.
"Excuse me?"
Tsubaki smiled inwardly. She turned around and face the director. "Yes? May I help you?"
The older woman seemed hesitate but after she carefully looked at Tsubaki"s face, a flicker of determination flashed in her eyes.
"I"m sorry if I has startled you," the woman said politely. "I"m Ayanokouji Masako, the director of House of Himawari. I"ve noticed you since the moment you entered the hall."
"It"s a pleasure to meet you, Director Ayanokouji." Tsubaki greeted the woman with a bow. "My name is Fuse Tsubaki, my surname is Hanada."
The director"s face fell once she heard Tsubaki"s name. "I"m sorry. It"s just that... You look really alike to someone I know."
Tsubaki was slightly guilty when she saw the sad look on the woman"s face. She sighed inwardly. Tsubaki clenched her clutch. She looked directly to Director Ayanokouji"s eyes.
"Are you talking about Hinata?"
Director Ayanokouji"s eyes widened in shock. "How... How do you know?"
Tsubaki smiled faintly. "Could we have a private talk?"
Director Ayanokouji nodded. Both of them exited the restroom. Tsubaki called for a waiter who walked along the hallway. The waiter brought them to a small tea room not far from the main hall. Tsubaki and Director Ayanokouji sat opposite each other.
"I"m sure you"re so shocked to see me who resembles Hinata greatly," Tsubaki started the conversation after taking a moment to calm herself. "I"m sorry if my appearance brought discomfort to you."
"No! Not at all, Mrs. Fuse," Director Ayanokouji directly refuted her. "It"s true that I was shocked but... I didn"t feel any discomfort. I"ve just reminded of one of my dearest children I"ve raised up."
From what Tsubaki knew, Director Ayanokouji was a diligent person. She treated each and every one of the child in the orphanage like her own children. All of them received the love and care they didn"t manage to get from their parents from this kind woman and her staff.
"Do you remember that before this a man came to find you and ask about Hinata?" Tsubaki asked slowly, her eyes peering to see the minute details of the woman"s expression.
"Yes." Director Ayanokouji nodded. "Mr. Gensai, right? He suddenly came to see me a few weeks ago and asked a few questions about Hinata. Were you the one who sent him?"
Director Ayanokouji was quite surprised when the young man came looking for her because he wanted to know about Hinata. Since it wasn"t weird to receive guests asking for certain child she had been taking care of, she didn"t find it difficult to entertain his questions. But, what puzzled her most was because Hinata had pa.s.sed away for years. Why did someone start looking for her now?
Again, after all those years.
"My husband was the one who sent Mr. Gensai to see you," Tsubaki smiled warmly. "We got to know where Hinata lived since childhood from Madam Nagao, her mother-in-law."
Director Ayanokouji recalled the name. Before Hinata got married, she had personally delivered an invitation to her. Her mother-in-law was an upright person so she had a good impression on the elder.
"Mrs. Fuse, please forgive me but..." The older woman once again took a careful look on Tsubaki"s face. After she hesitated for a few times, she asked, "Are you really related to Hinata?"
Tsubaki stared back into the woman"s eyes. She saw a faint longing in them. It was obvious that Hinata was cared greatly by this woman. Even though she didn"t know who was her mother, she got herself a great mother figure in her life.
The same as her.
"I"m her sister," answered Tsubaki truthfully. She didn"t have any intention to hide the fact from Director Ayanokouji. Especially if she wanted to get help from her. "I"ve just found out about it. It started when I met Hinata"s son. The meeting led me to a series of events until I got to know that she was, indeed, my twin sister."
It wasn"t a coincidence for her to meet Kouichi and for her to grow fond of him. They were fated to meet.
"Director Ayanokouji, I need your help." Tsubaki"s smile disappeared as she started meaning business. "I hope you could tell me everything you know about my sister. It might sound ridiculous but I"m afraid our birth secret isn"t just a simple one."
Director Ayanokouji pursed her lips. She looked into the young lady"s eyes. She greatly resembled Hinata, the bright child in her memory. While Hinata"s features appeared sharper than this lady"s delicate ones, it was undeniable that they looked the same as each other. It wasn"t a surprise for her if Tsubaki said Hinata was her twin sister.
After a long period of silence, Director Ayanokouji let out a sigh. She lowered her eyes as she stared at her hands gripping her knees. An old memory popped into her mind. She slowly raised her head, meeting Tsubaki"s earnest eyes.
"There"s still something I didn"t tell Mr. Gensai. It seems like, I couldn"t keep this story for long," the older woman said with a sorrowful voice.
Tsubaki clenched her fists under the table. Her heartbeat quickened once she heard what the older woman had said.
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