Chapter 1 – You never know what might happen in life
Translator: Riciel
Editor: Arya
“Hey, Yuya. Where’s your dad now?”
I, Yoshizumi Yuya, sitting in the living room of my house was facing a group of scary-looking men dressed in black suits and wearing sunglasses with scars on their cheeks. For outsiders, they seemed like a bunch of dangerous people.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I got home just now and found this on the table… “
I handed a note from the table to the person who seemed like the boss of this scary group. After he took off his sunglasses and finished reading the note, his shoulders started to tremble.
Oh, he definitely seems to be angry now.
“That b*****d … he finally got away…! And he even left his son alone! What a b*****d! “
‘You never know what might happen in life.’ That was what my father used to say.
He used to jump on the latest fashion hoping to make a fortune, but was always one step behind. So, by the time he started, the expensive items were already out of fashion and at the end he was left with nothing but unsold merchandise along with a lot of debt.
What was the last thing he tried? I think it was Tapioca, but I honestly don’t want to remember.
For such a failure as a merchant, my mother really loved that helpless man who did not possess any business talent.
My mother had a baby face that seemed like it would never age. Even when we walked together, we were mistaken as brother and sister multiple times. She was pretty and also a good cook, so as her son, I felt proud of my mother. That was why I once asked her why she married such a useless person. At that time, she answered shyly:
“Well, don’t you think it’s nice to see someone who is stupid, but also is working hard in his own stupid way? Your mother loves such a man.”
Love turns one blind, that was how the saying went. Whenever I saw people who were working hard, I had nothing but respect for them. But in my father’s case, he really tested my limits. I wanted to preach to him that people should learn from their mistakes.
But the only person I really needed to preach, was to myself.
I didn’t say anything to my father, who started a new business and failed, piling up debts, and also to my mother, who supported him and pushed him on. The result was the mess I was in right now.
“Taka-san. How much money did my father borrow this time?”
“Oh? No, I don’t blame you for not knowing. That’s right… Well, it’s about 30 million (30.000.000 yen = 250.000€ = 300.000$). Your father kept on borrowing money, promising to pay it back, and thus the debt has grown over time.”
While saying that, Taka-san and his other brothers sipped their tea. Oh, I forgot to mention it, but I’m not scared of these people. I’ve known Takashi Omichi, aka Taka-san since I was in primary school. He was a strong man and had a tough job, but he has been good to me. He’s like an older brother to me.
“Damn it. Kotaro, you b*****d. You finally left Yuya behind and ran away abroad. And what’s more, you’ve left the rest to the lawyers? How far did you think you could have gone with that, you b*****d!?”
When I came home, I didn’t find my mother there and the lights were turned off, as they normally should be. When I entered the room wondering why, there was a letter on the table, which said:
—Yuya! I know it’s sudden, but your mother and father have decided to move abroad! Apparently, Japan seems to be too small for us! For the time being, we’re going to hit the jackpot in the Vegas casinos, so please look forward to it! Don’t worry, I’ve got a lawyer friend of mine who will take care of the rest! Bye! —.
To be honest, I doubted my dad’s words, but he must have been serious because my mother’s and father’s belongings were missing from the house. What was I supposed to do now all alone? When I was at a loss for what to do, Taka and his friends arrived, creating this situation.
“Even though you were born from such a couple, Yuya, you grew up fine. Isn’t this a miracle? No, but perhaps thanks to me?”
“Haha … Well, I at least learned that my parents were the worst people around me. But what do you plan to do now, Taka-san?”
“That’s right. As expected, your father didn’t pay back the debt, and I can’t help you with this situation anymore. I have to take you with me.”
Taka said this with a sullen look on his face. All of his brothers turned their heads away too.
…I see now, I have to shoulder the debt now instead of my useless father and that too probably not in the right way. Does my life end here now?
“Rest assured, Yuya. I’ve persuaded your father to let you stay with me. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you live properly, don’t worry.”
“That’s right, Yuya! The best thing for you is to stay as you are, a normal high school student!”
“You can’t be like us, Yuya!”
Taka-san bit his lip and said this with a determined look on his face. The rest of his brothers followed suit, clenching their fists and cheering me on. Their faces didn’t scare me. Well, they possessed scary faces, but they were really nice people. Maybe that was also why my dad got so carried away with them.
“OK. I’m sorry for making this sudden, but you will be coming with me, Yuya. I’ll honor you with my perfect dogeza.” (Dogeza: Greatest apology posture in Japan)
I appreciate the gesture, but the line to go with it sounded incredibly lame, Taka-san! With a bitter smile on my face, I got up and headed towards the kitchen to wash the dishes and cups that everyone had drunk from.
Ding dong —.
The bell rang, announcing a visitor. Who could it be? It was too early for newspaper collection. Was it a religious solicitor? No, I’ve fought them off many times. I’m already paying for the national broadcasting service, so who could it be?
Ding dong —, Ding dong —.
After two or three times, the interval between the chimes gradually shortened. Eventually, after every chime, the chorus of the next chime rang too. It was so loud that Taka and I had to cover our ears. I had no choice but to respond.
“Yes, yes! I’m coming! Who is this!?”
I opened the front door, being a little frustrated from the ping-pong barrage. Standing there was…
“Hello, Yoshizumi-kun. I came to help you.”
The girl in front of me had long, straight, clear black hair that reminded me of the night sky. Her eyes were like pearls, as round as a kitten’s. It was not wrong to compare her to the models often seen in the magazines, as she looked like a goddess right out of a famous painting.
“Hitotsuba Kaede?”
Hitotsuba Kaede, the princess of our school, who had won the Grand Prix at the National High School Girls’ Miss Contest and had been voted as the prettiest high school girl in Japan, stood there smiling.
Chapter 1 – You never know what might happen in life
Translator: Riciel
Editor: Arya
“Hey, Yuya. Where’s your dad now?”
I, Yoshizumi Yuya, sitting in the living room of my house was facing a group of scary-looking men dressed in black suits and wearing sunglasses with scars on their cheeks. For outsiders, they seemed like a bunch of dangerous people.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I got home just now and found this on the table… “
I handed a note from the table to the person who seemed like the boss of this scary group. After he took off his sunglasses and finished reading the note, his shoulders started to tremble.
Oh, he definitely seems to be angry now.
“That b*****d … he finally got away…! And he even left his son alone! What a b*****d! “
‘You never know what might happen in life.’ That was what my father used to say.
He used to jump on the latest fashion hoping to make a fortune, but was always one step behind. So, by the time he started, the expensive items were already out of fashion and at the end he was left with nothing but unsold merchandise along with a lot of debt.
What was the last thing he tried? I think it was Tapioca, but I honestly don’t want to remember.
For such a failure as a merchant, my mother really loved that helpless man who did not possess any business talent.
My mother had a baby face that seemed like it would never age. Even when we walked together, we were mistaken as brother and sister multiple times. She was pretty and also a good cook, so as her son, I felt proud of my mother. That was why I once asked her why she married such a useless person. At that time, she answered shyly:
“Well, don’t you think it’s nice to see someone who is stupid, but also is working hard in his own stupid way? Your mother loves such a man.”
Love turns one blind, that was how the saying went. Whenever I saw people who were working hard, I had nothing but respect for them. But in my father’s case, he really tested my limits. I wanted to preach to him that people should learn from their mistakes.
But the only person I really needed to preach, was to myself.
I didn’t say anything to my father, who started a new business and failed, piling up debts, and also to my mother, who supported him and pushed him on. The result was the mess I was in right now.
“Taka-san. How much money did my father borrow this time?”
“Oh? No, I don’t blame you for not knowing. That’s right… Well, it’s about 30 million (30.000.000 yen = 250.000€ = 300.000$). Your father kept on borrowing money, promising to pay it back, and thus the debt has grown over time.”
While saying that, Taka-san and his other brothers sipped their tea. Oh, I forgot to mention it, but I’m not scared of these people. I’ve known Takashi Omichi, aka Taka-san since I was in primary school. He was a strong man and had a tough job, but he has been good to me. He’s like an older brother to me.
“Damn it. Kotaro, you b*****d. You finally left Yuya behind and ran away abroad. And what’s more, you’ve left the rest to the lawyers? How far did you think you could have gone with that, you b*****d!?”
When I came home, I didn’t find my mother there and the lights were turned off, as they normally should be. When I entered the room wondering why, there was a letter on the table, which said:
—Yuya! I know it’s sudden, but your mother and father have decided to move abroad! Apparently, Japan seems to be too small for us! For the time being, we’re going to hit the jackpot in the Vegas casinos, so please look forward to it! Don’t worry, I’ve got a lawyer friend of mine who will take care of the rest! Bye! —.
To be honest, I doubted my dad’s words, but he must have been serious because my mother’s and father’s belongings were missing from the house. What was I supposed to do now all alone? When I was at a loss for what to do, Taka and his friends arrived, creating this situation.
“Even though you were born from such a couple, Yuya, you grew up fine. Isn’t this a miracle? No, but perhaps thanks to me?”
“Haha … Well, I at least learned that my parents were the worst people around me. But what do you plan to do now, Taka-san?”
“That’s right. As expected, your father didn’t pay back the debt, and I can’t help you with this situation anymore. I have to take you with me.”
Taka said this with a sullen look on his face. All of his brothers turned their heads away too.
…I see now, I have to shoulder the debt now instead of my useless father and that too probably not in the right way. Does my life end here now?
“Rest assured, Yuya. I’ve persuaded your father to let you stay with me. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you live properly, don’t worry.”
“That’s right, Yuya! The best thing for you is to stay as you are, a normal high school student!”
“You can’t be like us, Yuya!”
Taka-san bit his lip and said this with a determined look on his face. The rest of his brothers followed suit, clenching their fists and cheering me on. Their faces didn’t scare me. Well, they possessed scary faces, but they were really nice people. Maybe that was also why my dad got so carried away with them.
“OK. I’m sorry for making this sudden, but you will be coming with me, Yuya. I’ll honor you with my perfect dogeza.” (Dogeza: Greatest apology posture in Japan)
I appreciate the gesture, but the line to go with it sounded incredibly lame, Taka-san! With a bitter smile on my face, I got up and headed towards the kitchen to wash the dishes and cups that everyone had drunk from.
Ding dong —.
The bell rang, announcing a visitor. Who could it be? It was too early for newspaper collection. Was it a religious solicitor? No, I’ve fought them off many times. I’m already paying for the national broadcasting service, so who could it be?
Ding dong —, Ding dong —.
After two or three times, the interval between the chimes gradually shortened. Eventually, after every chime, the chorus of the next chime rang too. It was so loud that Taka and I had to cover our ears. I had no choice but to respond.
“Yes, yes! I’m coming! Who is this!?”
I opened the front door, being a little frustrated from the ping-pong barrage. Standing there was…
“Hello, Yoshizumi-kun. I came to help you.”
The girl in front of me had long, straight, clear black hair that reminded me of the night sky. Her eyes were like pearls, as round as a kitten’s. It was not wrong to compare her to the models often seen in the magazines, as she looked like a goddess right out of a famous painting.
“Hitotsuba Kaede?”
Hitotsuba Kaede, the princess of our school, who had won the Grand Prix at the National High School Girls’ Miss Contest and had been voted as the prettiest high school girl in Japan, stood there smiling.
