CHAPTER 394: CHAPTER 294: SAKURAKO’S MOM

After some inquiries, Fushimi Roku confirmed that this money was recorded via lottery funds. It could withstand scrutiny and be used however he desired.

Fushimi Roku immediately repaid the Yamaguchi Group’s high-interest loan. Although he didn’t have to repay it, reducing complications was better than adding them. Problems solvable with money weren’t true problems—after repaying, he still had over twenty million left, and he couldn’t possibly spend it all!

It was time to consider buying a house in Tokyo.

The bank gave Fushimi Roku an additional gold card, treating him as a VIP user. Before leaving, he also received a premium dessert as a farewell gift.

To prevent Minamoto Tamako from checking the transaction, Fushimi Roku transferred the money to another card.

If he guessed correctly, Minamoto Tamako should also have received this money—if she suspected him of being a certain figure, she’d definitely try to check the transactions.

Merely predicting her thoughts wasn’t enough; Fushimi Roku contemplated solving the problem from the source.

By transferring the money from Minamoto Tamako’s card, she wouldn’t even know about it—wouldn’t that be perfect?

Money is the root of all evil, such deep sin should be borne by him alone!

Achieving this isn’t easy. First, he needs to get Minamoto Tamako’s card number, which shouldn’t be hard, just a little trickery; second is transferring the funds, large transactions would attract the bank’s attention and might even trigger a call to Minamoto Tamako; and lastly, the most difficult part is the personal account transaction record at the bank, which can’t be altered legally.

This money isn’t easy to make.

But risk and return are proportional; to have the capital to squander in the remaining days of his life, Fushimi Roku found it worth the risk.

The two returned home, and Fushimi Roku impatiently turned on the air conditioner, relishing the cool breeze.

Taira Sakurako noticed the black marks under his collar again, couldn’t help but ask what it was. Fushimi Roku waved his hand impatiently, telling her not to ask random questions and asked her to get a can of ice cream from the fridge.

"For the next few days, I’m not going out; anyway, Minamoto Tamako only asked me to oversee the school, and now the mission is completed. Let Minamoto Tamako accompany you to handle enrollment procedures."

Fushimi Roku licked the ice cream, turned on the TV, continuing to watch his favorite real estate reality show.

Taira Sakurako suspected this guy might be a vampire; before at least he’d walked the dog during the day; since coming back from Wulin Temple, Fushimi Roku hasn’t gone outside during the day (in leisure time)... Initially, he used to exercise, but now he’s entirely given up, lying flat on the sofa, watching TV and eating ice cream.

Yesterday he barely went out, meeting Minamoto Tamako and others for dinner, which was at one or two in the morning.

Perhaps those black marks on him are mold.

Taira Sakurako reasonably suspected that Fushimi Roku was dirty, deciding to temporarily avoid physical contact with him.

Suddenly, Fushimi Roku’s phone vibrated, he casually flipped it open and saw a barrage of messages from Minamoto Tamako—earlier outside, he didn’t pay attention, now he just noticed there were numerous unread messages.

What’s this guy up to again?

Fushimi Roku frowned, skimming through quickly, the core message was clear: Minamoto Tamako finally received a criminal case and needed his help to assist in the investigation.

The rest were a jumble of modifiers, like being part of a detective team and standing together, not letting the captain be the last in line at the police station; there’s also talk of it being a super formidable case worth interest... Finally, there were smug comments, likely feeling like the lead officer, and Fushimi Roku as her assistant at least in name.

Fushimi Roku could tell she was intentionally baiting him, talking about "unsolvable mystery challenging the entire police station" and "extraordinary suspect" and "even making Fushimi puzzled"... In the past, he might have had some interest and reluctantly gone to check it out.

But now, he was already a dying man.

He found it hard to care about the complex cases showcasing human ugliness anymore; meanwhile, he was suddenly confused about what to do in the remainder of his life, feeling particularly lost.

What should he do?

Just stay home watching TV?

But other things failed to interest him...

"Sakurako, come here," Fushimi Roku turned his head, lying on the sofa, shouted toward her room: "I have a question!"

Taira Sakurako thought he had something important, put down the enrollment materials she was organizing, and returned to the living room asking what it was. Fushimi Roku scratched his leg, asked: "How do you usually pass the time?"

"You called me just to ask this?"

Taira Sakurako was a bit upset; she wasn’t Minamoto Tamako, easily amused with a couple of redemption vouchers.

"This is important," Fushimi Roku put on a serious face: "Let’s say you only have six months left to live, perhaps even less, how would you like to spend the remaining time?"

"Uh... I don’t know."

Taira Sakurako, only seven, had only thought about the future, never about what to do in a limited life.

"Think carefully, isn’t there anything you’d regret?" Fushimi Roku asked earnestly.

Seeing he wasn’t joking, Taira Sakurako became somewhat tense: "Did the doctor say something? Do I only have six months to live?"

"Yes, that’s right."

Fushimi Roku lied effortlessly, flawlessly putting on a somber look: "Don’t tell Tamako, don’t want her getting upset."

Given it concerned her own life, Taira Sakurako naturally wanted to get to the bottom of it: "Why? Does autism affect lifespan?"

"Yes." Fushimi Roku nodded.

"You’re lying to me." Taira Sakurako’s tone turned cold.

She had read books on autism and knew what it was about. She asked if autism affects lifespan mainly to set a trap for Fushimi Roku, to see if he would lie... and unexpectedly, he did.

Fushimi Roku shamelessly maintained his composure despite being exposed: "It doesn’t matter, the point is, you don’t have anything you wish you could do but haven’t had the chance?"

"No."

Taira Sakurako didn’t want to talk to him and turned to leave.

Fushimi Roku quickly waved, promising her an extra pudding, which finally stopped Taira Sakurako. She thought seriously for a moment and gave an answer: "Maybe I want to experience a complete life."

"What do you mean by ’complete life’?" Fushimi Roku felt she was messing with him.

"It’s probably ’childhood’, ’adolescence’, ’romance’, ’old age’... these four stages without specific age limits, it’s a conceptual thing. I think experiencing all of them would make for a complete life." Taira Sakurako was actually being quite earnest in her response.

"Eh... at my age, can I still enjoy childhood?" Fushimi Roku retorted.

"Sure, isn’t there a saying about ’childlike fun’? And ’old child’ or something..."

Taira Sakurako paused and then offered a more straightforward suggestion: "Or you can call me mom, I don’t mind having you as a son."

"..."

Fushimi Roku reached out and flicked her on the forehead. Taira Sakurako staggered, covering her head, greatly annoyed.

"That’s enough from you, go over there."

Upon hearing this, Taira Sakurako extended her little hand, asking for the pudding.

Fushimi Roku let out a cold laugh, claiming ’no mom asks her son for pudding’, reneged and ate both puddings right in front of Taira Sakurako, and self-righteously declared ’this is what a willful son would do’...

Taira Sakurako was very angry, but she was already used to it. She planned to endure, wait for Minamoto Tamako to come back and complain, either to demand the pudding back or to make Fushimi Roku hand over a redemption voucher.

When she returned to her room, Fushimi Roku lay alone on the couch, pondering for a long time.

Taira Sakurako’s words deeply inspired him; some things, if not experienced, might cause deep regret at the end of life. Nowadays, he had already experienced ’childhood’ and ’adolescence’, indeed it was time to experience ’romance’.

Well, a handsome and wealthy guy like him wouldn’t lack women. Going to bars to hunt for affairs was meaningless, he had experienced all that in his previous life, what he lacked now was emotional value.

Therefore, there’s only one option.

Fushimi Roku turned over and changed his lying position. He contemplated that since he had little time left, there was no need to pretend with Minamoto Tamako... We’re all adults, what’s the big deal about starting a romance? It’s just a basic physical need like eating and drinking.

Hmm, as long as Minamoto Tamako confesses, he would agree to it.

The Angel conveniently popped up, asking why Fushimi Roku wouldn’t simply confess himself? Isn’t confessing something boys do?

Demon Kawai followed closely, wagging a finger saying nonono, with Minamoto Tamako’s personality, she would definitely take advantage, demanding this and that from her boyfriend, treating him like a Japanese servant—he wanted to enjoy romance, not be Tamako’s dog!

Fushimi Roku agreed with this reasoning, though lovers shouldn’t be petty, the one who’s loved has more leverage...

Minamoto Tamako couldn’t be compared to other women; this woman was too controlling, so he couldn’t open his mouth to confess!

With this thought, Fushimi Roku slapped his thigh, secretly made a decision.

—Must quickly woo Minamoto Tamako, have her take the initiative to confess!

—Taking advantage and tricking her into giving him her bank card password!

Fushimi Roku’s life was already ticking away rapidly. Once he set his target, he suddenly felt time tight, no time to leisurely continue watching TV!

He casually turned off the TV, asked Taira Sakurako to run errands, go out to buy essential oil, flowers, and groceries.

Of course, Taira Sakurako refused entirely. As an autistic child, going to school to register today was already pushing it; another errand might cause her little heart to explode.

No options left, Fushimi Roku had to call Watanabe Shun for help. The latter was originally unwilling, he was recovering at home, but when he heard there was payment for errands, he jumped at the chance.

After buying the items, Watanabe Shun’s delayed reaction finally kicked in; he realized something was off, asked through a pager why Fushimi Roku bought these things.

"None of your business."

Fushimi Roku took the paper bag, shut the door in his face.

Upon seeing this, Watanabe Shun frowned, feeling something was fishy. How could Mr. Fu Jian, a man like this, buy flowers without reason? Could it be he has someone outside?

As Nakagawara Police Station’s biggest gossip, Watanabe Shun immediately relayed this to Kazama Tatsuya and Moriyama Yasurou.

Kazama Tatsuya was drinking, Moriyama Yasurou was working; both rushed to Sugamo Apartment, stuck to the wall of Kazama Family to eavesdrop—Watanabe Shun followed them in, the three gathered to enjoy the gossip online.