Hidden Secrets

Chapter 31

The days passed in an endless loop, and Usagi felt trapped in a spiral. Eleven days had gone by since she last saw or heard from Seiya, except for occasional updates in the group chat. Each day seemed almost identical.

Taiki usually left the house early in the morning, and before he went, there was only a brief exchange between them on superficial topics. To avoid being overwhelmed by thoughts of her siblings, Usagi immersed herself in her project for homeless children. She formed collaborations with various partners who supported her with warm meals or provided discounts on blankets and winter jackets. These activities served as a distraction, but once she was alone in the apartment, heavy thoughts about Chibiusa and Shingo returned. Seiya's absence left a void in her that she desperately tried to ignore.

Yesterday, the last pieces of furniture for her new apartment were finally delivered, and Usagi set the goal of arranging them today. Despite Taiki's repeated mention that there was staff available for this, she insisted on doing it herself. Every move seemed to take her further away from the life she wanted to lead, but she bravely blinked away her tears and got to work.

Usagi packed the boxes on the 33rd floor and then confidently pushed them into the elevator. The elevator smoothly ascended, and as the doors opened, she entered the empty apartment. Her gaze in the elevator lingered momentarily on the button marked 30. But Seiya was no longer here. He had been staying with Haruka for almost two weeks now, she painfully reminded herself, and then refocused on the task at hand.

As the boxes gradually disappeared, and the rooms filled with her few personal belongings, she felt a sense of comfort settling in. The apartment began to take on a touch of life.

After a while, exhausted, Usagi sank onto the freshly arranged couch. Her phone, lying on the table, lit up. She picked it up and opened the group chat connecting her with the others.

> Blackmoon in an hour. < Taiki

> Everyone? < Yaten

> Yes, everyone. There's something important to discuss. Can someone pick up Serena? < Taiki

Usagi glanced at the time; Taiki's last message was already 15 minutes old with no responses. Secretly hoping that Seiya would pick her up, she decided to take a different route.

>Not necessary. Makoto can probably drive me. Don't go through any trouble for me. < Usagi.

For a moment, she looked at her phone, waiting to see if anyone else would reply, but with neither rejection nor approval coming in, she pulled herself together and went downstairs.

Usagi entered Makoto and Tellu's apartment. At first glance, the apartment seemed empty. She called out a tentative "Hello," and shortly afterward, the kitchen door opened. Makoto blinked at her in surprise.

"Serena! What are you doing here? Did I forget an appointment?" Makoto asked with a smile.

"Hey, Makoto. I hope I'm not disturbing. I was hoping you could drive me to Blackmoon."

Makoto furrowed her brow. "To Blackmoon? What do you have to do there? You do know what kind of place that is, right?"

Usagi hesitated for a moment, searching for an evasive answer. "It's not what you think, Makoto. Taiki is waiting for me there... there's a meeting about to happen."

"In a brothel?" Makoto continued to inquire skeptically.

"Uh, yes. If you want to know exactly, it's in the rooms above. So, what do you say, can you give me a ride?"

Makoto glanced over her shoulder back into the kitchen. "Give me another 5 minutes, then the muffins can come out of the oven... But I'm really curious about what you have to discuss in a brothel."