CHAPTER 111: SICK?

With the mention of that day? Haruki felt he understood why Kiyoshi was very cautious when talking to him. His day was without any serious schedule and he could afford to push aside everything he had planned for the checkup but why was Kiyoshi in a hurry to get him to a checkup?

"Do I look sick to you?" Haruki asked very seriously as his gaze got colder.

Kiyoshi shook his head firmly and smiled but the smile came a bit awkwardly causing Haruki’s gaze to turn into a cold glare.

"No, I don’t think you look sick," Kiyoshi said after clearing his throat too hard and coughing a few times.

"Then what?" Haruki asked his gaze turning a bit bored as he bent to pick up his phone.

"Then, the sweat?" Kiyoshi said sounding a bit unsure himself. "You got so sweaty and from what I know, it is not a very good sign even when it’s summer after all, we have excellent air conditioning in this house." Kiyoshi persuaded himself just as much as he was trying to persuade Haruki.

"I will go when the scheduled time arrives. I am very busy today," Haruki replied before leaving for his walk-in closet with his phone.

Kiyoshi watching Haruki’s departing back wrapped in the black dressing coat he wore, could not hold back a sigh. He knew it wouldn’t be an easy feat to persuade Haruki to go to the hospital but he felt he could give Haruki some medicine to hold him until he gets better.

He went to inform Ren of the outcome of their conversation. Coming up with a countermeasure for Haruki’s recent dangerous actions was not a very easy task and they could not come to a conclusion aside from ensuring Haruki is kept safe and protected for as long as this continues as much as it was not a sustainable decision.

Haruki had ordered them to reduce the number of his guards to only two. That was crazy because as much as the country was relatively peaceful, Haruki had more enemies than he could imagine the moment he became his grandfather’s successor.

It was as though he had inherited every crime of his grandfather and all the enemies his grandfather had transferred to him along with the inheritance.

After becoming the chairman, he also got a lot of enemies and the security around Haruki had gotten tighter after the incident with the prime minister but now Haruki was courting death by wanting them to reduce the number of his guards to only two.

It was a real headache for both Ren and Kiyoshi to think about but they knew they would have to ignore Haruki’s order as they were sure he wouldn’t make such a decision when he was thinking straight.

***

Haruki was working in his study later that night when Ren knocked on the door and entered when he was invited in. He looked like he had something important to say and did not simply stop in his office for some tea.

Ren locked the door behind him and sat down when Haruki casually gestured to the sofa before he continued what he was doing. When he got to a place he could pause, he stopped what he was doing and rose up.

He sat down and looked at Ren calmly waiting for him to say what he had to say. "What do you have to say," he decided to give Ren the go-ahead when he noticed the man was unwilling to speak. He must have something a bit too difficult for him to say without Haruki’s permission.

"I think you need to see a psychologist," Ren finally forced out the very difficult words. He didn’t know how to beat around the bush or say it subtly.

Haruki cocked his eyebrow and a small smile lifted the corner of his lips. "Are you joking?" Haruki asked.

"I am not sure if it will work but I think professionals will have the answer to why you decided to get rid of your guards and why you walked towards a brawl that could turn deadly," Ren said as a matter of fact.

Haruki sighed at his excuse and shook his head. He understood where the man was coming from but he wondered why Ren and Kiyoshi were ganging up against him one trying to force him to get physical treatment and the other trying to force him to get mental treatment.

"Are you and Kiyoshi so sure that I might be sick?"

"I wouldn’t say you’re acting sick but I think, just as I said earlier, that I would need a professional answer since you didn’t give Kiyoshi a good reason why you want to reduce the number of guards around you to two.

"Two? That’s just too much. Do you know how many guards you on the day you were attacked and yet they could not keep you safe?"

Haruki’s gaze got colder as he was reminded of the day his house was invaded. One of the major reasons why he had quite a few houses was to make it almost impossible for someone to easily guess what house he was headed to and yet that man was able to guess and when he did, he walked into his home as though he owned it.

"That was your fault, one I have not had the proper chance to punish you for. Remember you are in charge of my security."

Ren could easily guess the direction the conversation would get to if they continued talking that way and he didn’t want that to happen so he pressed his lips together and said, "I agree with you that is why no one has succeeded in attacking you despite how hard they tried. That man succeeded because he had the support of the government."

Trying to give a logical answer just reminded Haruki of the minor betrayal he got from the government who were known to respect him but he had long forgiven them considering they allowed him to repay the man the visit he gave him.

Haruki leaned forward and asked, "Do you really want us to discuss this? I think it is just about time we do after all, I have not discussed this seriously with you."

"This is not what I wanted to discuss with you," Ren said seriously when he noticed it seemed Haruki was using this as an opportunity to steer the conversation far from his mental health.

Haruki had no intention to discuss his mental health with the man who met him when he was an abused child with so many psychological wounds and yet told him to bottle it all up because unchecked emotions were a weakness he didn’t want as a chairman.

If someone had helped him when he was younger and pulled him out of the mud, his body wouldn’t be asking for a break, a sleep so deep it was a step away from death.

He knew his mentor was right about him needing help even just because of asking for a reduction in the number of guards because he knew the reason he requested that. He was subconsciously seeking the rest that he was craving for what he was addicted to.

The addiction was dangerous and the substance was even more dangerous one that could kill even though he knows he knew when to stop. He could understand the worry of his mentor.

For the same man who told him to lock up his emotions and take control of the properly to give him such a suggestion for the first time since they met, he knew the man was truly worried.

He decided to lock up his feelings and take full control of whatever self-destructive demon possessed him. He raised his head and met Ren’s gaze and with a smile so warm, he could melt an iceberg, he said, "I understand your worry. You have no reason to worry about me."

Ren was taken aback by the man’s sudden change in demeanour. "I . . ."

"I won’t take back my order about reducing the guards to two," Haruki began seriously with the smile gone and his eyes as cold as an iceberg. "I am strong enough to protect myself and if so many guards can’t stand against a strong enemy then I don’t need them. Send them somewhere else, maybe back to the security company."

Ren could see that there was no way he could persuade Haruki to take back his order.

"If I find out that you didn’t follow my order, I won’t be happy." He held Ren’s gaze as he waited for the man’s confirmation of his words.

Ren looked down avoiding Haruki’s gaze. He wore an expression that showed this decision was a bit too difficult for him. It was one he wished he could ignore but from Haruki’s words and expression, he was certain Haruki would take drastic measures against him if he found out his order was ignored.

"Fine."