Chapter 83: Who Told Japan Not to Promote Anti-Fraud Apps?

On the way home, Shunobu Aoyama made a call to Noritomo Hikokawa, respectfully requesting that he accompany him the day after tomorrow to the Asai family to act as a matchmaker.
Since he had not officially taken up a post yet, Noritomo Hikokawa was quite free these days and readily agreed, even suggesting that Shunobu Aoyama set the engagement for next June.
Shunobu Aoyama expressed his doubts.
While he was not in a hurry to marry, he did not mind getting engaged sooner; after all, it would be advantageous to carry the mantle of "prospective son-in-law of the Asai family" in his dealings.
“Because I believe next year you will rise another step. If you wait until your position is higher to get engaged, the occasion will be grander, and it will prevent idle gossip,” Hikokawa replied airily.
“Understood!” Shunobu Aoyama was overjoyed. If Hikokawa, whose words were golden, said he would be promoted next year, then by June he would surely be promoted, and he’d have the double joy of promotion and engagement. “I’ll do exactly as you advise, brother Hikokawa.”
Next June, he would be twenty-five. A twenty-five-year-old Superintendent could no longer be described as merely promising.
He must have someone influential backing him.
Without exceptional merit or a patron to break the rules, if one relied solely on seniority and the regular path, even a professional Inspector would need seven years of service to rise to Superintendent.
By next June, he would have worked only two years; Hikokawa’s words would save him at least five years of struggle.
Shunobu Aoyama was fiercely ambitious for promotion.
His aim was not only to reach the top of the Police Agency, but to resign afterward and run for parliament, entering politics—so the younger he was when he formally stepped into that world, the further he could go.
“Still, you must forge yourself hard as steel. Rack up some real achievements, or else even if someone wants to help you, there’s no justification,” Hikokawa advised lightly.
After all, forcibly promoting someone lacking ability would only incite public outrage.
Shunobu Aoyama replied gravely, “Yes!”
He was now fired up. He might not always be the first to face every major case, but when it came time to claim credit, he would always be at the forefront!
A dozen minutes later, Shunobu Aoyama arrived home.
He pressed the doorbell, but no one responded. The living room light was on, so he took out his key and opened the door.
“Ah! Shunobu, you’re back.”
About ten minutes later, Haruko Aoyama came downstairs dressed in a pink camisole nightgown, drying her damp hair with a towel.
At each step, the white curves within her dress bounced, waves surging, mesmerizing.
“Sister-in-law, let me help you dry your hair. I also have something to discuss with you,” Shunobu Aoyama offered, rising.
“Alright, thank you, Shunobu.” Haruko Aoyama smiled gently, came downstairs, handed him the towel, then sat on the sofa.
Shunobu Aoyama moved behind her to dry her hair; from his vantage, he could gaze into the abyss—so deep, so large and fair, and the dress quivered gently as he dried her hair.
The sight made him dizzy—after all, he got motion sickness from 3D, let alone 32D.
How could Munemasa Aoyama bear to let such a stunning wife live apart? In another sense, his elder brother was truly ruthless.
“Shunobu, didn’t you say you had something to tell me?” Haruko Aoyama waited for a while, then asked curiously as he remained silent.

“Oh.” Shunobu Aoyama, his mind full of thoughts of Naiko, came back to himself and said, “Sister-in-law, I’ve been seeing a young lady for some time. She’s deeply in love with me, insisting she’ll marry no one else. I had no choice, so I asked a friend to come with me the day after tomorrow to propose at her home.”
“If things work out, the elders of both families will meet and set the date for the engagement. Please tell my brother to clear two days next week to come back to Tokyo.”
No matter what, Munemasa Aoyama was his elder brother and head of the Aoyama family; he must meet the Asai family, otherwise it would be terribly improper.
“Ah!” Haruko Aoyama was caught off guard and spun around suddenly, the force almost causing her dress, unrestrained by any undergarments, to betray her. Her mind was in a whirl. “This is so fast! You haven’t even told us anything about the girl.”
She was surprised and happy, but also felt a strange pang of sourness in her heart, not quite understanding why.
“She’s my superior, Ayaka Asai. Her father is a Superintendent at the Shinjuku Police Station, her brother is a member of the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly,” Shunobu Aoyama explained simply.
Haruko Aoyama pondered for a moment, blinking. “Her family matches ours rather well.”
To her, the Aoyama family was not only aristocratic; her brother-in-law was an Inspector, her husband was an assemblyman, so the family backgrounds weren’t far apart.
“Indeed.” Shunobu Aoyama did not elaborate on the Asai family’s background, lest his sister-in-law become anxious.
Haruko Aoyama’s expression was complex, but also relieved. “Our Shunobu is starting a family now.”
“Uh… it’s actually early, very early. Neither of us is in a hurry to marry,” Shunobu Aoyama felt uneasy under her nurturing gaze.
“I’ll call your brother now.” Haruko Aoyama sighed, then moved to the side table, picked up the receiver, and dialed. When the call connected, she spoke gently, “Dear, it’s Haruko.”
“What is it?” Munemasa Aoyama’s tone was impatient.
Haruko Aoyama was used to his ways and felt no displeasure, smiling as she said, “Shunobu is preparing to discuss an engagement with his longtime girlfriend. He hopes you can come back next week to meet her family and set the date.”
“Hm?” Munemasa Aoyama was caught off guard and asked, “That fool isn’t around you, is he?”
Haruko Aoyama glanced at Shunobu, who shook his head, then said, “Shunobu isn’t here.”
“Idiot! That fool! Such an important matter, and he tells me only now? Does he even treat me as his brother? If I were home, I’d teach him a lesson!”
Haruko Aoyama couldn’t help recalling the time Munemasa was beaten up by Shunobu, and her mouth twitched. “Dear, you must come home.”
“What about the girl’s family?” Munemasa asked, then scoffed before Haruko could answer, “Forget it, he’s just some run-of-the-mill inspector; he probably can’t find a suitable match. If he wants me involved, maybe I could introduce him to a parliamentarian’s sister.”
“Uh… dear, Shunobu has been transferred back to the Police Agency. He’s an Inspector now—not just an Assistant Inspector.” Haruko explained, then added, “His girlfriend is his superior; I believe she’s also an Inspector. Her brother’s an assemblyman like you, and her father’s a Superintendent.”
“…” Munemasa Aoyama’s voice stuck in his throat as if choked by a feather. After a moment’s silence, he sneered, “Who would have thought the fool would live off a woman? Truly a disgrace to the Aoyama family. But the girl’s family is decent, I suppose they barely match us. I’ll come back next week.”
Though Shunobu’s girlfriend’s family was better than expected, Munemasa didn’t make much of it, thinking they were only slightly superior to his own.
“Yes!” Haruko Aoyama’s face lit up, and she hurriedly asked, “Is there any special dish you’d like? I’ll…”
“Beep… beep… beep…” The other side had already hung up.
Listening to the busy tone, Haruko Aoyama’s smile gradually froze. She sat motionless, clutching the receiver, biting her lip, silent for a long time.
“Sister-in-law?” Shunobu Aoyama called her.
Haruko Aoyama came back to herself, forcing a smile. “He’s always so busy.”
No good comes to the lovesick, sister-in-law!
Shunobu Aoyama couldn’t understand it, truly couldn’t.

But he understood very well!
…………………………
June 3rd, Wednesday, clear skies.
In the morning, the trial for the murder of Masako Mikami opened, and reporters crowded outside the Tokyo District Court for news.
Today, Yuhiko Asai didn’t go to work, and Sakeyoshi Asai specially came from Kanagawa, because Noritomo Hikokawa had announced he would visit today.
Advance notice meant a very formal visit.
Both father and son postponed their work and waited at home to receive Hikokawa.
After all, Noritomo Hikokawa was the only male in his generation of the Hikokawa family; his every act represented the entire clan, and no degree of respect was too much.
At ten o’clock, Hikokawa arrived.
“Hikokawa-san.” Sakeyoshi Asai personally greeted him at the door. When they played together as children, he addressed Hikokawa as “little brother,” but now he dared not.
Since his grandfather had passed away, while Hikokawa’s grandfather held high office, a thick, regrettable wall had risen between these childhood friends.
“Brother Sakeyoshi.” Hikokawa still smiled and addressed him as elder brother, and instead of shaking hands, embraced him. “It’s been so long. I’ve wanted to meet up, but knowing you’re busy, I didn’t want to intrude.”
“If you invite me, I’ll make time no matter how busy I am,” Sakeyoshi Asai replied with a smile.
“Alright, I’ll remember that.” Hikokawa let go, then entered the house, beaming. “Uncle Asai, you still look so young. Oh! Isn’t Aunt here?”
“She heard you were coming and went to buy groceries herself. We’re eating at home today,” Yuhiko Asai said warmly. “Don’t just stand there, please sit.”
The three took their seats and reminisced about old times, the atmosphere harmonious, until Hikokawa set down his teacup.
The Asai father and son immediately knew the main event was at hand.
“Uncle, Brother Sakeyoshi, besides wanting to see you, I also came today regarding Ayaka’s marriage,” Hikokawa said solemnly.
Yuhiko Asai and Sakeyoshi Asai were momentarily bewildered. They had speculated about Hikokawa’s visit, but never imagined this.
Yuhiko Asai was the first to react, “So Hikokawa, you mean… you wish to act as a matchmaker for Ayaka?”
“Exactly.” Hikokawa nodded, smiling. “Ayaka is not young anymore; it’s time to settle her marriage. I have a very close friend—you know him, Shunobu Aoyama. You know his abilities well; the Aoyama family was once aristocratic. I believe he can restore the family’s glory. If Ayaka marries him, it would not disgrace the Asai family.”
“You mean Shunobu Aoyama?” Yuhiko Asai was shocked and angry—shocked that Hikokawa would advocate for Aoyama, which showed a close connection; angry that the rascal had stolen his cabbage, likely right under his nose, without him noticing!
Sakeyoshi Asai was equally furious. No wonder when he approached Aoyama days ago, the man so readily agreed—it was all a ruse.
The promised hundred million was already paid yesterday.
Damn! He’d been swindled!
If only Japan promoted anti-scam apps.