Forced Marriage, True Love

34. Help

I stared at my phone, wondering whether I should call her or not. I sighed. 'She really is a good person. But... I cannot overstep my place like this.' I sighed. 'I'll just message her. Whether she sees the message and replies to it is another story.'

I breathed in deeply and quickly texted a message to Tohru-san. 'I don't have much hope that she will help me. Just in case, I should ask Suzume-chan as well.' I thought, although deep down, I didn't want to. Even if it has been three years since her mother died, Suzume-chan still missed her deeply. It was a bad habit of hers.

Should I ask Suzume-chan? No, not yet. Asking her anything would be plan Z. "Hah. What a pain." I sighed before pushing my phone away and continued working on my design. However, my mind was not in the right state and didn't let me focus on my work.

"My goodness. I need a coffee." I said and got up from my seat. Just as I did, my phone rang, making me stare at the caller ID. "Tachibana-san, do you have no better thing to do than call me?" I asked in an annoyed tone as I answered the call.

"Have lunch with me." He said, making me sigh. "I already made my bento, so I refuse." I said and was about to cut the call when Taki's next words threw me off my feet. "Looks like I have to cut your salary a bit." He said. "You bastard!" I shouted, making my colleagues look at me. Feeling embarrassed, I cleared my throat. "Excuse me."

I walked to the office balcony. "So, what do you say, fiancée?" Why you little-wait. Since he always asks me to do something, maybe I can ask him for a favor as well? "I have a condition to come for lunch with you." I spoke. "Spill." "I want to meet Tohru-san this weekend. Is it possible for you to arrange a meeting for us?"

"Huh?" Taki seemed taken aback by my brazen request. "What are you saying?" "Do you want me to speak in english for you to understand what I just said?" I asked in a mocking tone. "Arrange a meeting for me and Tohru-san this weekend. Only when that is confirmed, I will come for lunch with you. Or else, you can forget it." Saying so, I cut the call before Taki could respond.

I smirked as I continued working on my design. Either way, it's a win-win situation for me. If Taki manages to convince Kyo-san to let me meet Tohru-san this weekend, I can get her help to dig deeper into Shinta Takagi's death. If he doesn't, I can avoid being attacked by his face for a while.

I thought it would be impossible for him to arrange a meeting between us. However, after fifteen minutes or so, I got a message from Tohru-san, making me open my screen and read it. 'Mitsuha-san, you don't have to be so polite to me you know? If you want to meet me, you can just text me or call me anytime you want. I'll try my best to be free for you.'

I smiled as I replied back to her. 'Thank you, Tohru-san. So, are you really okay with meeting with me this Saturday?' 'No problem. I'm free on Saturday. Tell me the place and time.' I smiled as I texted her the location and time.

No sooner than I sent her the message, another message from Taki popped up on my screen. 'Well then? Will you come now?' I sighed. 'It's not like I have a choice. I'll come.' 

***

My eyes widened as I saw the delicious food in front of me. It was the best food I ever had in my whole life. I just couldn't stop eating, while Taki kept looking at me, taking a bite here and there once in a while.

I wolfed down the food, cherishing every moment of it. "Do you really not want to eat? It's delicious." I said with a mouthful of food. "I'm not that hungry. I'd rather watch you eat." I scoffed as I drank some water. "Well, I finished my part of the deal. You'd better not go back on your word on Saturday, Tachibana-san." I spoke. "I promise. I'll try my level best." I smiled at him, making him smile back at me. He slowly raised his hand and touched my cheek, making me swat his hand away, while Taki chuckled.

***

It had been five minutes since I came to the park which was the place where I had to meet Tohru-san. I was five minutes early than our meet-up time, so it was okay. "Mitsuha-san!" I heard a familiar voice, making me turn around and beam at the person.

"Tohru-san!" I waved happily as I ran towards her. Tohru-san hugged me, making me return her gesture. Even if we spent a short time together back in US, it was an experience I would never forget in my life. Back then, not only did I try to save her, but Tohru-san tried to save me as well, despite the fact that neither of us knew each other so well.

"It's been so long. How are you Mitsuha-san?" Tohru-san asked me as we both walked over to a bench and sat down. "I'm good. How are you Tohru-san?" I asked eagerly. "I'm great. Fit and fine in front of you."

We talked for a while before I came to the main point. "Tohru-san... actually... I need your help with something." I said, making her look at me. I sighed before I told her how I believed Shinta Takagi's death was actually a pre-planned murder and how I was planning on retrieving the film from the CCTV in the hospital.

"Mitsuha-san, I would truly like to help. But no matter how powerful my husband is, I cannot take advantage of his position like this." Tohru-san replied, making me look down. "However, ... I think I can help you in another way." She said, making me look at her again. "Huh?" "Can you tell me the name of the hospital?"

"I... I think it was... The Sohma General Hospital." I replied, making Tohru-san widen her eyes. "Sohma General Hospital? Is that why you asked for my help?" She asked, making me nod. The hospital in which Shinta's death was announced was The Sohma General hospital, a hospital run by The Sohmas.

The Sohmas are the second most powerful people in Japan, just behind The Tachibanas. However, unlike the Tachibanas, the Sohmas had various other businesses like schools, hospitals, etc. In a nutshell, they were filthy rich. If they focused all their wealth on The Sohma Groups, I'm sure that would be the number one company across the world.

"I see. Well then, if it really is The Sohma General Hospital in which Shinta Takagi was brought over to for treatment, I might be able to help. However, we cannot go unannounced like this." Tohru-san said. "Is it really necessary to let them know?" I asked.

"Is there something wrong?" Tohru-san asked me. "The thing is Taki Tachibana-san's father has put tight restrictions on all the employees of The Tachibana Industries. That includes me as well. I don't get any special treatment just because I'm the boss' fiancée. I know it was Itsuki Tachibana-san who caused Shinta Takagi's death. However, there is no solid proof. If I recklessly move around like this, they will think it's suspicious and keep their eyes on me. I definitely cannot let that happen. Or else, everything will be in vain."

"I see." Tohru-san said while touching her lips. "Well then. It might be hard, but I'll try my best to arrange a private meeting with you and the doctors who attended Shinta-san's operation." I smiled as my eyes widened in glee. "Thank you so much Tohru-san. I promise, in the future I will definitely repay you." "There's no need for any repayment. Just consider it as a thank you for saving me back in US."

The two of us laughed as I felt extremely light while talking to her. Tohru-san... thank you so much.