Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner-Chapter 829 - 500: Honesty That Shouldn’t Be

The wind in Hokkaido in September was fierce, carrying the cold fragrance of locust flowers. It swept through the red and gold gates of the hall, brushing against the bride’s hair.

Fushimi Roku stood in front of her, his ears ringing with Mori Na’s words:

"A lie will always be exposed one day. If you haven’t lied, then I wish you well; if you have, I hope you’ll consider whether to confess before everything becomes irreversible or conceal it until your lover is heartbroken."

Back then, Fushimi Roku scoffed at these words. As long as he could take the secret to the grave, it was as good as nothing happening. He was mentally prepared to walk the tightrope his whole life.

That was until Mori Na brought up the deal:

"I have evidence, a recording of your conversation with reporter Yazaki Momo while you were in the hospital, unconscious... As long as you swear honestly, I’ll clear the suspicion and destroy that tape."

Fushimi Roku’s first reaction was to test whether the recording evidence was real. Mori Na repeated everything he said that night word for word and explained that she had purchased the information from Yazaki Momo in advance for a bonus of thirteen million yen, paid by check.

In the outcome constructed by Mori Na, where everyone was satisfied, she didn’t count herself in.

She noticed a breakthrough in the case and went to find Yazaki Momo before leaving Tokyo.

The former female reporter who would do anything for news was now a corporate slave, bearing the heavy burden of mortgage and car loans. Even though leaking this recording would ruin her career, she chose to trade.

With thirteen million, Yazaki Momo could retire early. Why continue toiling as a reporter?

After the shooting incident at the hall, when privately meeting with Fushimi Roku, she did what any reporter would do—used a recording pen to document the conversation to avoid bias in reporting.

That recording remained until now, perhaps it couldn’t overturn a case in court as direct evidence, but in Minamoto Tamako’s eyes, it was enough as evidence to ’convict.’

Fushimi Roku’s second reaction was to lie, testing Mori Na again: "How can you judge whether I’m telling the truth? What if I’m lying?"

"I’ll have my judgment later."

Mori Na replied, "If, and I mean if, you’ve done wrong, then you just need to consider whether to lie to the person in front of you—even knowing the lie will eventually be exposed."

...

The pastor’s admonition ended, and he closed the book, signaling the couple could take their vows.

Fushimi Roku drew himself from his memories to gaze at Minamoto Tamako. She looked back at him with eyes sincere and pure, not a trace of impurity.

"I promise..."

Minamoto Tamako began, just as she did when swearing an oath at police academy: "Whether in prosperity or adversity, wealth or poverty, health or sickness, joy or sorrow, I will forever be by your side..."

"Protecting you in crises, comforting you in sorrow, supporting you in growth..."

"To love you, respect you, trust you wholeheartedly, and be forever honest with you until the end of life."

...

This was supposed to be a touching vow, yet Fushimi Roku only heard ’forever honest.’

The pastor turned his head, smiling as he said, "Now it’s the groom’s turn to take his vows..."

In an instant, countless images flashed through Fushimi Roku’s mind.

From the initial partner fee at the police academy to the mutual probing in the "Minamoto Tamako Manual," to the Redemption Voucher during their cohabitation, and finally the Rabbit Coins in love... He had told Minamoto Tamako numerous vile lies, remaining unmoved even after being exposed countless times.

But Minamoto Tamako never minded.

Fushimi Roku knew in his heart that Minamoto Tamako could forgive his flaws but could not tolerate deceit on principle.

He had been deceiving himself all along, thinking that the "Heavenly Punishment" murder case was no different from other lies.

But in reality, hiding that he had killed someone and hiding that he had stolen pudding were entirely different in nature.

’Just keep concealing it...’ he thought.

’When the day comes that it’s exposed, I’ll exchange a Redemption Voucher for her forgiveness...’

But if that day truly comes, will Minamoto Tamako still forgive me?

More importantly, can I forgive myself?

In front of Fushimi Roku was the image of a numb and disappointed Minamoto Tamako. She no longer cried, no longer pleaded, but tore the Redemption Voucher apathetically, claiming it was nothing more than a trick for children.

It’s just because you care about the other person that you become childish.

Minamoto Tamako was never foolish.

The imagined scene overlapped with the present one, where Minamoto Tamako, dressed in a white wedding robe, waited with a smile and shyness for his vows.

’All I can do is lie, there’s no way Mori Na could tell the difference,’ Fushimi Roku told himself. ’I’ve done many unconscionable things; this one wouldn’t make a difference.’

He took a deep breath, slowly beginning:

"I’m sorry, I lied."

The hall fell silent, and even the orchestra ceased playing. This was not supposed to be what one said in a wedding vow.

Fushimi Roku removed his badge, set down the bouquet, and under Minamoto Tamako’s gaze of shock, confusion, and bewilderment, he stepped back along the red carpet, off the altar:

"You’ve always said to be honest, that there shouldn’t be secrets between lovers..."

"But in reality, you’ve always respected my little secrets. For instance, you’ve always been curious about the money I made from stock trading, kept asking but never pursued it."

"At first, I lied, saying it came from stock trading, but it was actually embezzled money I stole from Nagashima Shigo—"

"What?!" Minamoto Tamako’s eyes widened.

The guests perked up their ears, as no one disliked watching a spectacle. Kujo Mutsumi extended a hand, attempting to cover Minamoto Tamako’s ears but was slapped away, disregarding that he was her dying grandfather.

Fushimi Roku’s pace quickened: "Then I lied, saying I could predict stock trends and just kept making money. But it was actually money given by the Inakawa Association—strictly speaking, not dirty money. I did something good, just anonymously, so an Inakawa Association member gave me a Daifuku as thanks..."