Ke Xue: Shinichi and I are childhood friends.

Chapter 1140 Night Confrontation

Hattori Heiji was shocked. He had imagined all kinds of scenes when changing clothes, but none of them were like this.

The two of them wore kimonos of the same color, looking like a couple.

Especially Ooka Momiji's dignified and elegant sitting posture, Hattori Heiji actually saw the shadow of his mother in her, both of whom were the most traditional Yamato Nadeshiko images.

And now, he was standing at the door, and Ooka Momiji was kneeling in the room. After the initial glance, she quickly lowered her head shyly, revealing her snow-white neck. This scene looked like a wife waiting for her husband to return home on her wedding night.

How could a young chef like Hattori Heiji experience such a scene? His face turned red instantly. Fortunately, his skin color was darker, so it just made him look darker than usual.

Seeing Hattori Heiji standing there in a daze, Ooka Momiji felt a little proud. As expected, for Japanese men, such an image has the greatest lethality, and it was worth it for her to use her usual tutoring skills.

Yuanshan Heye, what do you have to compete with me for the same position?

After calming herself down, Ooka Hongye raised her hand slightly and gestured, "Master Heiji, please take a seat."

Hattori Heiji came to his senses and quickly knelt down in front of Ooka Momiji. To hide his nervousness and embarrassment, he casually took a piece of cake and stuffed it into his mouth. The next second, his eyes lit up and he said, "Oh, this cake tastes good!"

Upon hearing this, Ooka Hongye showed an unconcealable smile on her face: "I made this myself, I'd love it if you like it."

Uh... For some reason, Hattori Heiji felt even more embarrassed. He pretended to cough and said, "Um, about..."

"Please wait a moment, Master Heiji." Ooka Momiji raised her hand slightly to stop Hattori Heiji from asking, "The night is long, and just talking would be too boring. Would you like some tea?"

Hattori Heiji's eyes fell on the tea set in front of him. He hesitated for a moment, knowing that he would not be able to get anything out of her unless he satisfied Ooka Momiji, so he could only agree reluctantly.

Ooka Hongye gave a reserved smile and began to make tea with elegant movements.

Hattori Heiji propped up his chin, tapping his knees with his fingers. After a moment, he suddenly said, "I thought you would make some request, but to be honest, I didn't expect you to treat me with a tea ceremony."

Ooka Momiji smiled and said, "Master Heiji, what did you think I would ask you to do?"

Hattori Heiji choked and looked away with a guilty look.

Ooka Momiji smiled and didn't ask any further questions. She picked up the teacup with the five fingers of her right hand, placed it on the palm of her left hand, and placed it on the tatami in front of Hattori Heiji in the most standard tea-offering posture. Then she said, "Please enjoy it, Master Heiji."

Hattori Heiji scratched his cheek and said, "You don't need to use honorifics."

Ooka Hongye smiled but said nothing.

Hattori Heiji sighed: "Forget it, whatever you want." He could see that as the daughter of a wealthy family, Ooka Momiji obviously had her own pride and persistence.

Although he didn't know why she considered him as her future husband, the more important thing now was to find out about Nagoro Shikao.

Hattori Heiji picked up the teacup, spun it slightly, and then took a sip: "Hmm, very perfect." Should we say that she is worthy of being a rich lady, her tea-making skills are impeccable.

"I'm so glad you're satisfied." Ooka Momiji smiled, her eyes narrowed into slits. "Well, thank you for satisfying my willfulness. In return, I will answer everything Heiji-sama wants to ask."

Upon hearing this, Hattori Heiji immediately put down his teacup and asked anxiously, "Hongye, you are Nagoro Shikao's disciple, right?"

Ooka Momiji was stunned for a moment, unsure why he mentioned his former master, but she nodded nonetheless. "Indeed, I first learned karuta from Nagoro-sensei. Lord Heiji, are you wondering about your master?"

Hattori Heiji thought for a moment, then said, "Do you have any records of Nagoro's matches, such as videos or something, preferably videos of his matches in the last few months before he disappeared?"

Ooka Hongye said, "Yes, not just the last match, I have saved all the video recordings of the matches from the years before Mr. Nagoro disappeared."

Hattori Heiji thought of the information he had found on Nagoro Shikao and said, "You were Nagoro's disciple. His fighting style suddenly changed drastically before he disappeared. Do you have any idea about this?"

Ooka Momiji, who had been scrutinizing Hattori Heiji's face, had a slightly changed expression. After a moment of silence, she spoke, "Yes... According to Master, he developed an eye disease about a year before he disappeared. The doctor said he only had a year left before his eyesight would gradually deteriorate until he lost his sight."

Hattori Heiji suddenly realized: "No wonder the competition style became so radical before Nagoro disappeared."

"Yes," Ooka Hongye lowered her eyes slightly. "Losing his eyesight would have ruined Master's career as a karuta player. His gradually declining eyesight also severely affected his performance in competitions. To achieve victory, he even changed his previously precise fighting style, employing tactics that were previously impossible."

Hattori Heiji narrowed his eyes slightly. Was this the origin of all the negative reviews of Nagoro Shikao in his later years? He had never expected there to be such a reason behind this.

"Then..." Hattori Heiji suddenly realized something, "The match that was forced upon Gaoyuekai..."

Ooka Hongye shook her head slightly. "I can't elaborate on the reasons, but apart from that, the day before the challenge, Master privately challenged Madam Gaoyue to a one-on-one duel."

Hattori Heiji was puzzled: "Why?"

A hint of hesitation flashed across Ooka Hongye's eyes, and after a pause, she said, "I don't know. I only know that the master seemed to be planning to show off his strength in a private duel, and then deliberately lose the match the next day."

Hattori Heiji was puzzled. Why would he do such a thing?

He suddenly thought of his eyes, and his gaze narrowed: "If my guess is correct, your master disappeared after that night?"

Ooka Hongye nodded: "That's right."

Hattori Heiji pondered. Could it be that Nagoro Shikao had lost that duel? Could he have gone into hiding because he couldn't handle the blow?

In this case, I have to go and see Achiha Kensuke. Of the people who knew about this matter, one is missing and one has passed away, and the only one who knows the inside story is probably President Achiha.

Because he might be the last person to see Nagoro.

Thinking of this, Hattori Heiji stood up and said, "That's all I want to ask. It's about time..."

"Heiji-sama," Ooka Momiji interrupted him softly, "It's already late at night. Isn't it too late to leave? How about staying here for one night? I have plenty of guest rooms at home. You can stay in any one you like."

Hattori Heiji couldn't help but look at the time. It was indeed very late. Although Kyoto Prefecture was not far from Osaka, it was indeed not suitable to drive late at night while being tired.

I just want to stay at a girl's house that I don't know very well...

Ooka Momiji saw the reason for Hattori Heiji's hesitation and suggested, "Heiji-sama and Inspector Ayanokouji can stay overnight together and meet the president tomorrow."

"It just so happens that I also want to go there, so I can ask Iori to drive us there tomorrow morning."

Now that things have come to this, and Ooka Momiji's etiquette is so complete, it would be very rude to refuse.

Hattori Heiji could only say: "Then I'll go ask Inspector Ayanokouji for his opinion."

Although Ayanokouji was a little surprised, he accepted the suggestion. He also wanted to ask Hattori Heiji what they had just talked about.

"Then I'll trouble you, Miss Hongye."